BSP identifying seats where it can field candidates in 2019

After Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav reiterated his commitment to form an Opposition alliance against the ruling BJP in Uttar Pradesh, Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party has started identifying seats from where it can field candidates in the upcoming 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

BSP sources told ET that former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati was in direct touch with top SP, Congress and RLD leaders to give final shape to the united opposition front.

“She has made up her mind to join hands with SP, Congress and RLD in the upcoming 2019 general elections. But she is also trying to protect the political interest of her party. Her major concern is transfer of votes of alliance partners to BSP candidates during the Lok Sabha polls,” another BSP source told ET. According to him, BSP is hopeful of contesting 35-40 seats as part of the opposition alliance in Uttar Pradesh.


Sources said Akhilesh Yadav was giving special attention to Samajwadi Party’s organisation set-up for proper coordination with BSP cadres at the ground level. “His priority is that alliance must be effective at the ground level. Apart from our party’s victory in the recent Lok Sabha bypolls in Gorakhpur and Phulpur, the alliance worked effectively in Kairana in favour of the RLD candidate,” an SP source said.

Both SP and BSP sources have indicated that the alliance would be formally announced by year end, after the Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh assembly elections, the SP source said.