Lucknow: The Bahujan Samaj Party has refused to divulge its strategy for the Rajya Sabha biennial elections in Uttar Pradesh.
When asked during a press conference about her party’s stand regarding BSP’s surplus votes, Ms Mayawati said, “When the election results are out, you will know whom we supported”.
Sources, however, said that the 12 surplus votes of the BSP had been promised to former union minister Kapil Sibal of the Congress. In return, the Congress will give its second preference votes to the BSP in the Vidhan Parishad elections.
The BSP which has 80 legislators in the 403 member assembly in Uttar Pradesh, has fielded two candidates which leaves her with 12 surplus votes. In the Vidhan Parishad, the bSP needs 7 additional votes to ensure the victory of its three candidates
“Ms Mayawati wants to continue with her go-it alone policy and will therefore not announce her support to the Congress but the surplus votes will go to Mr Kapil Sibal,” said a party functionary.
BSP has 80 MLAs and with 34 first preference votes needed for the victory of a candidate, the party can easily ensure success of its two nominees with 12 votes to spare. For Rajya Sabha, BSP has fielded Satish Chandra Mishra and Ashok Sidharth.
