BSP announces 82 candidates for first phase of Guj election

Ahmedabad, Nov 20 (UNI) The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) today announced a list of 82 candidates for the first phase of Gujarat Assembly elections to be held on December 11 and said it would not issue any election manifesto.

Talking to mediapersons, Gujarat's BSP incharge R P Singh and state general secretary Nalin Bhat said the party has nominated three women, six Rajputs and seven Muslim for the elections. The party has also given tickets to six Bhramins and one Jain and 59 from the backward castes.

Mr Singh said the party would announce five more candidates by tomorrow for the first phase. The party would soon announce the 95 candidates for the second phase of the elections to be held on December 16.

Mr Singh said the party Supremo Ms Mayawati, in a message to the electorate of the state, has appealed to vote BSP and press the ''elephant'' button on EVMs on the polling day.

She said BSP is the only party, which can protect the interest of all communities and castes. ''We believe in the policy of united ruling and not divide and rule''.

Mr Singh asserted the party would contest all the 182 seats and hope to win ''majority of seats'' to form a BSP government in Gujarat.

He said Party Chief and UP Chief Minister Mayavati would campaign for her party candidates in the state but the dates had not yet been finalised.

UNI