UP assembly polls on time: Mayawati

Lucknow, June 4 (UNI) A strong aspirant for taking the reign of Uttar Pradesh, BSP president Mayawati today said the state assembly polls would be held on time alongwith Punjab and Uttaranchal Vidhan Sabha elections.

''There is no need to panic on the date of UP assembly polls as the Election Commission has informed the State Government about its decision to hold the elections alongwith Punjab and Uttaranchal,'' she claimed.

Talking to reporters here, Ms Mayawati said her party was ''well prepared'' for the assembly polls.

Criticising the Mulayam Singh Yadav government for the deteriorating law and order in UP, she said when even policemen were not safe, one could judge about the safety of common man.

''The present dispensation is run by goondas and mafias and there will be no respite for the people,'' she asserted.

Narrating the ''misinformation tirade'' launched by her opponents over donation issue, the former UP CM said her party does not take financial aid from industrialists and business houses, hence the BSP cadre has to donate money to run the party.

''BSP candidates and leaders, who can afford, give us donations to conduct electioneering in the assembly and Lok Sabha polls. Small sums to run the party are collected through membership drive and coupons on birthday,'' she disclosed.

Giving reasons for not taking donation from industrial houses, the BSP leader said, ''If we take such donations, then we have to dance to their tunes as being done by the ruling party in UP.'' To a poser, she denied that the recently held Jan Morcha rally in Lucknow and formation of a Peoples Democratic Front by some Muslim clerics would create problem for the BSP.

''These outfits will only help us in UP assembly polls as they would dent the Samajwadi Party vote bank,'' she claimed.

UNI MB VS SHB BD1522