BSP to fight UP urban body polls on party symbol after 22 yrs
LUCKNOW: The BSP on Wednesday decided to contest the upcoming urban body elections on the party symbol after a gap of more than two decades and stressed on dealing with fresh challenges through a new strategy.
At a meeting of party leaders of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand convened by party supremo Mayawati, detailed discussions were held on the issue of upcoming urban body elections in the state, and it was decided that they will be contested on the party symbol, said a statement issued here.
Though the BSP’S base is not as strong in urban areas (as in rural areas), the decision has been taken in view of the growth in people’s support in urban areas as well, the release said.
“The party will try to give good results with the help of sarv samaj (entire society),” it said quoting the party chief.
The BSP has not fought the urban body polls on party ticket after 1995 but Wednesday’s decision was taken following a demand to this effect from its leaders who felt it was time to make the party’s presence felt in the state, especially after the debacle in the recent assembly polls, party insiders said.
Reviewing the present political situation, Mayawati directed the leaders to increase the BSP’S support base among the sarv samaj while facing new challenges, the release said.
“There is a need to work with renewed vigour and missionary zeal through a new strategy to deal with new challenges before the BSP movement,” she said. MUMBAI: Polling is underway in three municipal corporations -- Chandrapur, Latur and Parbhani -- in Maharashtra on Wednesday.
The stakes are especially high for the ruling BJP as it is not in power in any of these three corporations and is looking to make inroads.
According to the State Election Commission, till 1.30 pm, 29.2 per cent, 37.31 per cent and 34 per cent voter turn-out had been registered in Chandrapur, Parbhani and Latur, respectively.
Chandrapur is the home turf of senior BJP leader and Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar. At present Congress is in power in this 66-member civic body.
As many as 460 candidates are in the fray whose fate will be decided by 3.02 lakh voters.
In the 70-member Latur corporation, it will a test of political clout for BJP leader and state minister Sambhajirao Nilangekar and the local Congress MLA Amit Deshmukh.
Congress, which controls the corporation, had got a drubbing in the recent local body polls in Latur district.
The city had faced acute water crisis last year and government had to transport water by railway waggons at the peak of summer.