Kairana, Delhi, UP: Is BSP-SP deal done?

THE OUTCOME COULD SET THE STAGE FOR AN ALLIANCE WHERE THE BSP TAKES A BIGGER ROLE IN NEW DELHI AND THE SP IN LUCKNOW

NEW DELHI: The Bahujan Samaj Party plans to contest the by-election for the Kairana Lok Sabha seat to test viability of a possible alliance with the Samajwadi Party in next year’s parliamentary election, a BSP leader familiar with the matter said, asking not to be identified.

The outcome could set the stage for an alliance where the BSP takes a bigger role in New Delhi and the SP in Lucknow, the person added.

Buzz of a larger alliance between the two parties has increased after their partnership in the recent bypolls for two Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh defeated the ruling BJP. Subsequently, the two parties decided to participate in the birth and death programmes of their respective icons. On Tuesday, a SP leader in Gorakhpur, Mohsin Khan, said BSP chief Mayawati should be PM.

BSP and SP leaders did not respond to calls and text messages seeking comment.

Mayawati, the BSP leader said, discussed the partnership with SP president Akhilesh Yadav during a half-an-hourlong meeting on March 14. Yadav thanked Mayawati for the BSP’s support to SP in the Gorakhpur and Phulpur Lok Sabha bypolls where the combine handed a crushing defeat to the BJP.

“The two by-elections showed that the BSP can transfer its votes to SP candidates. Before entering into a formal pact for the next Parliamentary election, we need to be sure that the SP can seamlessly transfer its votes to the BSP candidate,” the leader added. “The by-election in Kairana is that opportunity for the BSP.”