Sindhia to join BSP in the presence of Mayawati on Dec 23

Bangalore, Dec 21: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in Karnataka got shot in arm with senior politician and former Karnataka Minister P G R Sindhia today announcing his decision to join the Party.

"I have decided to join BSP formally in the presence of BSP Supremo and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati at a Rally organised in the Palace Grounds on December 23", Mr Sindhia told newsmen here. He said that Ms Mayawati would be arriving in the city tomorrow and would address on Sunday a party Rally expected to be attended by over five lakh people from all over the state.

"I am joining the party along with thousands of my followers from various parts of the State", he added. He said ''in my political life, it gives me great pain to leave Janata Parivar but it has not only become broken house, but has also broken hearts due to various reasons''.

Mr Sindhia said that "in my 35 years of political career, this is first time coming out of Janata Parivar, though it was built by me and even after being in jail for 20 month during emergency.

With heavy heart I have decided to leave. Nobody can reunite Janata Parivar, since it is not a broken house but also with broken hearts", he added.

Stating that Ms Mayawati has emerged as a great leader in the country because of her consideration for all sections of the people, Sindhia said that "Ms Mayawati was the first leader in the country who has announced reservation not only for backward class people but also to poor in upper caste. She is for all community." "A lady like Ms Mayawati should become Prime Minister of the country that is why I have decided to strengthen her hands and work for the party wholeheartedly", he added.

Replying to a question, he said that " I am not joining the party with any benefit in my mind and not intended to become Karnataka Chief Minister. BSP should become a people movement and I will never utilise my position to bite others".

BSP State President Gopal alleged that despite Ms Mayawati announcing that there would be no alliance with Congress in the elections, the Congress party giving misleading statements. " Our alliance in the elections would be only with communities and it would be natural alliance and no alliance with any political party", he added.

BSP National General Secretary, Veer Singh, who was also present, said that Ms Mayawati had clarified that there would be no alliance with Congress, still that (Congress) is spreading the news to mislead the people.

UNI