BSP to contest all UP assembly by-poll seats

LUCKNOW: The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) on Thursday decided to field candidates on all the eight assembly seats, by-polls to which are to be held later this year. This is in contrast to BSP’s earlier policy of not contesting by-polls.

The decision was taken at a meeting of senior party leaders, under the chairmanship of party chief Mayawati, in Delhi.

A senior party leader said: “The decision was taken in view of the 2022 assembly election and the party wishes to revitalise its cadre by contesting in the assembly by-election. The by-poll will also reflect the mood of the voters before the assembly election and the party will have ample time to strengthen itself after analyzing the by-poll results,” he said.

Party sector in-charges were directed to announce the names of candidates after approval by the party president, he said.

On Wednesday, BSP had announced the name of Kuldeep Sankhwar as party candidate on Ghatampur (Kanpur) assembly seat.

A meeting of senior BSP leaders will be held on September 21 in the eight assembly segments to discuss the election strategy.

Meanwhile, BSP expelled its chief sector in-charge of Chitrakoot division -- Jitendra Sankhwar -- on the charge of anti-party activities.

Of the eight assembly seats going to by-poll, six seats -- Naugawan Sadat, Deoria, Ghatampur, Bulandshahar, Tundla and Bangaramu -- were won by BJP in the 2017 assembly seats and two constituencies– Malahani and Suar (Rampur) -- were won by Samajwadi Party.