Widen BSP support base in run-up to 2024 LS polls: Maya

: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Thursday directed her party leaders and office bearers to start preparation for the 2024 Lok Sabha election by strengthening the organisation at grassroots level and launching a membership drive to increase its support base.

Chairing a meeting of BSP leaders and office bearers at the party’s state unit office in Lucknow, Mayawati said, “The BSP has strong support base in Uttar Pradesh. Due to the tricks adopted by rival parties as well as their casteist and communal agenda, a particular community (Muslims) was misguided during the (2022 U.P.) assembly election. They did not support the BSP candidates in the assembly poll.”

“The party leaders have to remain alert to counter the propaganda launched by the rival parties to mislead the Muslim community,” she added.

The BSP chief urged the party leaders to enlighten people about the BSP decision to support NDA’s presidential candidate Droupadi Murmu.

“The BSP is not supporting a political party or a person but a scheduled tribe candidate. The tribals are a deprived community and the BSP is fighting for their rights. The decision to support Murmu is neither proNDA or anti- UPA but an independent decision of the BSP leadership,” she said.

“Due to the wrong policies adopted by the BJP government, the situation has deteriorated in Uttar Pradesh. There has been an increase in unemployment, price rise and poverty. To restore peace as well as law and order, the state government should take strict action against the criminal and anti-social elements,” said the BSP chief.