Ties with BSP still intact, says Abhay

Says has spoken to BSP supremo and the coalition will remain till Lok Sabha and assembly polls

Haryana leader of opposition and Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) legislator Abhay Chautala on Wednesday refuted allegations that his party had parted ways with ally Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).

Replying to newspersons’ questions in the context after INLD state executives’ meeting convened here to introspect into INLD’s drubbing in the recent Jind bypoll, Abhay said that INLD-BSP ties were intact and would remain so till the forthcoming Lok Sabha and assembly elections this year.

“Some BSP leaders only said that the situation in Jind would have been different if the INLD had not split. No BSP leader had ever said anything about snapping ties with the INLD,” said Abhay. He further said that he had discussions with the BSP supremo Mayawati about Jind bypoll results and the ties were intact. On the issue of debacle in the Jind bypoll, the INLD leader said the MLAs and leaders had been asked to collect affidavits from voters as to whom they voted for in the election so that the election commission could be approached for a probe into the allegations pertaining to “manipulations” in the EVMs.

He held that there were at least 60 booths where INLD got one or two votes only, which was impossible according to the party’s internal assessment, hence the doubt on the EVMs. Abhay also alleged that there was a free play of money, liquor and other tactics by all the rival parties, including the ruling BJP, to garner votes. He said the INLD would take up the issue with the election commission.To the questions pertaining to the issues which cropped up in the party executive meeting, Abhay said that the members discussed the strategy to take on the ruling BJP in the upcoming budget session. “All the MLAs have been asked to prepare questions to be asked in the budget session pertaining to government’s failure and irregularities in their respective areas,” he said and added that the INLD would also gherao the government’s announcement to pay ₹6,000 relief to farmers. Terming it as a joke on the farmers, Abhay said,“The INLD would demand for assistance of ₹21,000 to the farmers.”

Some BSP leaders only said that the situation in Jind would have been different if the INLD had not split. No BSP leader had ever said anything about snapping ties with the INLD. ABHAY CHAUTALA, INLD leader