BSP hopes to play kingmaker in Chhattisgarh

NEW DELHI: Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) hopes to win more than a dozen out of the 35 seats it is contesting in Chhattisgarh assembly election in alliance with the former chief minister Ajit Jogi-headed Janta Congress Chhattisgarh (J) and play a role in formation of the next government.

The party has deputed several senior leaders to supervise its campaign for the election which will be held for 90 seats in two phases on November 12 and 20, said BSP functionaries.

“Apart from Rajya Sabha member Ashok Siddarth, the party has deputed several leaders such as former Uttar Pradesh ministers Ambika Chaudhary and Lalji Verma, Ajay Bharti and Bhim Rajbhar to personally monitor the election campaign in this small state,” said a BSP functionary, who is camping in Chhattisgarh.


“As per our assessment, there are high chances of formation of a coalition government in the state. So, if we win at least 15 seats, none can ignore our role in the formation of the next state government,” he said.

BSP members said the party has fielded seven candidates in Janjgir-Champa area. “Janjgir, a Lok Sabha constituency which accommodates eight assembly seats, is the most important destination of the BSP in this election in view of its old association with the BSP founder Kanshi Ram who had contested his first general election from here,” said a party member, who did not wish to be identified.

The assembly segments under Janjgir are Akalatara, Janjgeer-Champa, Sakti, Chandrapur, Jaijepur, Pamgarh, Bilaigarh and Kasdol.

In the first phase, the BSP expects to put up a good show in constituencies such as Dongargarh, Donargaon, Keshkal , Kanker and Kondagaon. “We will put up a good show in these constituencies which will go to polls in the first phase of elections,” said the party functionary cited earlier.