BSP does a flip-flop, says alliance with SAD intact

Jalandhar; Doing a flip-flop, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Punjab unit on Saturday said its alliance with the SAD is “completely intact” and that the seat-sharing discussions for the Lok Sabha elections will be held at the party high command level.

BSP Punjab unit chief Jasvir Garhi, who had earlier said “practically” there was no alliance left with the SAD and his the party would go solo in the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls, said, “We shall not let the alliance face any trouble from the BSP side and support it fully.”

Garhi also posted a message on his Facebook page on Friday with a picture with other BSP leaders outside the residence of party chief Mayawati.

“We shall continue to mobilise the BSP cadre for the advantage of the alliance from all the constituencies and fully strengthen the party. The seat-sharing matters, however, will be taken up at the higher level in a meeting between the chiefs of the two parties,” Garhi said.

Asked about the flip-flop, Garhi said, “I had only mentioned that practically alliance was not functioning. I had only wanted the party cadre to remain active in all 13 constituencies. For this, I am already touring to all 13 seats and meeting party workers and supporters. I was in Patiala today. Tomorrow, I have my programmes in Ludhiana. Further on, I have events in Sangrur, Gurdaspur and Amritsar.”

On Mayawati having already maintained that there would be no alliance of the BSP for the LS polls, Garhi clarified, “She only said no to INDIA bloc. She, however, remains open to alliance with all regional parties, wherever feasible.”