BSP not to field candidate against Sonia

Lucknow, Mar 31 (UNI) Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister and BSP president Mayawati today announced her party will not field any candidate against AICC chief Sonia Gandhi in the Rae Bareli bypolls.

Addressing party workers in a closed door meeting here, Mayawati reportedly maintained ''the BSP strategy will help the party weaken BJP.'' She claimed if the BSP fielded its candidate against Sonia, it would in a way help the BJP. ''We want Sonia to emerge as a stronger leader in the Lok Sabha...her presence in Parliament would weaken the BJP.'' She opined that a stronger Sonia would ultimately help BSP in its future plans. Mayawati added she wanted a balance between BJP and Congress to help the BSP eventually.

Her reported decision comes a day after expelled BJP leader Uma Bharti announced fielding a woman candidate against Sonia in Rae Bareli by-polls, the date of which is yet to be announced.

The sadhvi-turned-politician said she wanted to contest from Rae Bareli herself, but for the time constraint in view of launching her new party by April 30.

''In any case, I would function as a 'shadow' candidate and spend sufficient time to campaign against Ms Gandhi,'' she announced.

Earlier this month, Sonia had announced her resignation from the post of National Advisory Council (NAC) chairperson and as member of Lok Sabha following office of profit controversy.

On Tuesday, Sonia announced in Rae Bareli her decision to contest the bypoll from the segment.

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