Seven BSP MLAs suspended: Mayawati supports BJP to defeat SP

(PTI) New Delhi, Ta. Thursday, October 29, 2020

Mayawati today suspended seven BSP MLAs for objecting to the candidature of official BSP candidate Ramji Gautam in the Rajya Sabha elections on charges of anti-party activities.

Amid speculation that BSP MLAs in Uttar Pradesh may turn the party around, Mayawati will decide to vote for another party to persuade the BJP to defeat the Samajwadi Party candidates in the forthcoming Assembly elections.

The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister had said that the day the rebel MLAs joined any other party, the BSP would take action against them under the anti-secession act. He also said that the party organization was told not to invite rebel MLAs to any party function.

The suspended MLAs included Aslam Chaudhary, Hakim Lal Bind, Mohammad Mujtaba Siddiqui, Aslam Raini, Sushma Patel, Hargovind Bhargava and Bumdana Singh, the party said.

Mayawati said that not a single suspended MLA would ever be made a BSP candidate in the future. Candidates of their own religion and caste will be fielded against them. The BSP will continue to promote people of caste, community and religion.

"Society should not be punished for their actions," he added. Mayawati said that her party would not spare any effort in defeating SP candidates in the future, even if the BJP had to vote for another party's candidate.

Those who have won against the Samajwadi Party's second-ranked candidate will get the votes of BSP MLAs. Seven MLAs had revolted against Mayawati, with the SP fielding Ramji Gautam for the November 9 Rajya Sabha elections. The four legislators affidavited that their nomination papers were signed by someone other than them.