SP victory in district panchayat chairman polls hollow: Mayawati

LUCKNOW: BSP supremo Mayawati today hit out at the ruling Samajwadi party, terming its victory in the district panchayat chairman polls as "hollow" and a result of "blatant misuse of the official machinery".

"It was unfortunate that SP was claiming big success in district panchayat chairman polls when they had blatantly misused official machinery, hence making a mockery of the election process. The victory on the basis of massive irregularities is hollow," Mayawati said in a party release issued here.

The former Chief Minister also alleged that the SP had gone to the extent of not allowing opponents to even file nominations.

She also noted that those who elected through such indirect elections either turn rebel or are removed from their posts on change of governments as has been seen in the past.

"Samajwadi Party government had become unattractive for people in its very first year in office and now it is losing its mass support in a big way", she said, adding that the ruling party has made these indirect elections a power game.

Upping the ante against the ruling SP, Mayawati said that people of all sections are fed up with the government and they will show their anger from time to time in the elections.

"They now await the next Legislative Assembly elections which will be held under the direct supervision of the Election Commission and central forces will be deployed which will make the goonda and mafia elements ineffective," she said.

The Samajwadi Party had yesterday claimed a massive victory in the district panchayat chairman election.

"The party has bagged as many as 60 of the 74 seats", SP spokesman Rajendra Chaudhary had said.