SP- BSP alliance may cost NDA 23 seats in UP: Athawale
LUCKNOW: Union minister of state for social justice and empowerment Ramdas Athawale on Friday said the SP-BSP alliance could cost the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) 25-30 Lok Sabha seats in UP in general elections next year.
“The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will win about 50 seats in UP while the remaining will be captured by the SP-BSP alliance,” Athawale told media persons here.
When told it would mean a loss of 23 seats for the BJP as compared to last Lok Sabha elections, Athawale replied, “The BJP will make up for the loss by winning in the north eastern states that have 26 seats.”
The BJP leaders have been claiming that even after the alliance between the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party, the BJP will bag all the 80 seats in UP. The BJP and its allies had won 73 seats in 2014 Lok Sabha election.
Inviting BSP president Mayawati to join the NDA, Athawale said the SP had betrayed her in the Rajya Sabha election.
“The SP won Lok Sabha by-polls in Gorakhpur and Phulpur with the support of the BSP but did not give return gift to the BSP in Rajya Sabha election. The SP MLAs did not give first preference vote to BSP candidate Bhimrao Ambedkar,” he said.
“Mayawati became the chief minister with BJP’s support. The SP is the main enemy of her party in Uttar Pradesh. She should join the NDA in the interest of Dalits,” he said.
Athawale, who is also the president of the Republican Party of India (RPI), said Narendra Modi would again become the country’s Prime Minister after the next year’s elections.
“No one can challenge Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Congress president Rahul Gandhi, BSP’s Mayawati and SP’s Akhilesh Yadav cannot match Modi’s appeal and charisma. While some alliance partners have left the NDA but parties like the AIADMK would fill the void,” he said.
Athawale criticised political parties for opposing the UP government’s decision to include ‘Ramji’ in the name of Dr BR Ambedkar in all official correspondence and records.
“It has nothing to do with Lord Ram. The name of Dr Ambedkar’s father has been included in his name,” he said.
Welcoming the Yogi Adityanath government’s plan to grant reservation to extremely backward and Dalits in government jobs, he said the move would provide opportunities to the deprived sections of the society.
Expressing concern over the spurt in atrocities on Dalits, Athwale said the law should be enforced strictly to check such cases and inter-caste marriages should be promoted.
On triple talaq issue, he said the Muslim women would support the BJP in Lok Sabha elections.