Mayawati tells Punjab BSP chief to expel pro-alliance leaders

Jalandhar, Nov 30 (UNI) Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) President and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati today took exception to opposition to the party's decision to go to polls all alone in the coming assembly elections in Punjab by some party functionaries and directed the state leadership to expel such persons.

Speaking at a rally today, Ms Mayawati said the party had already taken a decision to contest the assembly elections in Punjab on its own, but a handful of party workers had reportedly expressed dissent against the decision.

She said, ''we do not need such workers in our party who wanted to see party dependent on others.'' Ms Mayawati said she had directed party state president Avtar Singh Karimpuri to expel such people from the party.

It may be recalled that a group of BSP functionaries, including a state general secretary, had expressed views against the party's decision of opting against a poll alliance for the assembly polls in Punjab. They felt that in such a situation, the BSP would not be in a position to win even a single seat.

This group also opted to stay away from today's party rally.

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