BSP pulls the plug on alliance with Indian National Lok Dal

CHANDIGARH:In a major jolt to the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) ahead of polls, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) on Saturday called off its over nine-month-old alliance with Haryana’s main opposition and forged ties with the Loktantra Suraksha Party (LSP), an outfit floated by rebel BJP MP Raj Kumar Saini.

“On the directions of BSP president Mayawati, the BSP today ends alliance with the INLD and ties up with the Loktantra Suraksha Party (LSP),” BSP Haryana in-charge Meghraj told mediapersons here.

The development comes days after the Om Prakash Chautalaled INLD suffered a humiliating defeat in the Jind bypolls, with party candidate Umed Singh Redhu forfeiting his security deposit, amid the ongoing family feud in the Chautala family.

Under the new arrangement, BSP and the LSP will contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and the Haryana assembly polls.

Of the 10 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana, the BSP will contest on eight and the LSP on two seats, Meghraj said. He further said his party would contest on 35 and the LSP on 55 seats during the assembly polls.

Meghraj said the decision to snap ties with the INLD was taken after considering the demand of the people of Haryana.

“Our leader Mayawati gave them a chance for staying united. When we entered into an alliance, the INLD was one party. But after Chautala family split, we got a chance to judge them in the Jind bypoll,” Meghraj said.

On his part, senior INLD leader Abhay Chautala said: “We did our duty. We gave BSP leaders and workers due respect. But if they have decided to snap ties with us, we cannot force things on them.”