The Hindu : No alliance with BJP for LS polls: Mayawati

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Aug 02, 2003

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National

No alliance with BJP for LS polls: Mayawati

By Kanwar Yogendra

SHIMLA AUG. 1. The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Bahujan Samaj Party leader, Mayawati, has ruled out any further alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party, especially for the coming Lok Sabha elections.

Talking to newsmen before addressing her party's cadre camp, she said her understanding with the BJP and the two-party coalition was limited only to Uttar Pradesh.

Refusing to comment much on the controversial Taj Corridor issue, she said some people in the media were `twisting the facts' according to their `casteist' convenience.

Calling some of the newsmen "manuwadi", she said, she had clarified her stand in Delhi and Lucknow, but the media had `misrepresented' the statements given by her and the Prime Minister. "These people are uncomfortable with the smooth functioning of the BSP-BJP Government in Uttar Pradesh'', she added.

Asked about her cadre camps in various states, the senior BSP leader said, "since 85 per cent of the population comprised SCs, STs, religious minorities and backward classes, the BSP while representing this section, was ready to spread the message across".

Addressing party workers from various districts of the State, Ms. Mayawati said she had been assigned the task by the party supremo, Kanshi Ram, who was not able to give much time to Himachal now. Laying emphasis on discipline among the cadres, she said the workers in Himachal would be issued guidelines on the pattern of Uttar Pradesh and they should take the party message to the grassroots. She appointed Narender Kashyap from Uttar Pradesh as in-charge of party affairs in Himachal. Announcing the party strategy for future polls, she said 25 full-timers would be prepared in each of the 68 constituencies of the State.

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