Dissent in BSP over issue of alliance for Punjab elections

Jalandhar, Dec 3 (UNI) The issue of alliance for the coming Assembly election in Punjab has ignited dissent in the Bahujan Samaj Party(BSP) state unit.

The party high command had already decided to go to the polls alone in the Assembly elections due to be held by February next year in the state and since than a section of party workers in the state has been raising voice against the decision and insisting to forge an alliance either with the ruling Congress or the Shiromani Akali Dal(SAD).

The dissidence over the issue was so strong that a group of party workers had recently held demonstration against the party leadership and matters came to a head during BSP supremo former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati's two-day visit on November 29 and 30.

A group of pro-alliance workers led by the party state general secretary Pawan Tinnu showed adamant attitude over the issue and they even opted to stay away from Ms Maywati's programmes and rally held here on November 30.

Ms Mayawati was also unhappy over the development and she had announced in her speech at the rally that leaders who exhibited opposition or disregard to the high command's decisions are not acceptable in the party.She had also directed the party state president Avtar Singh Karimpuri to expel such leaders from the party.

The next day Mr Karimpuri ordered expulsion of Mr Tinnu and two of his associates.

This triggered reaction as pro alliance group held a meeting here yesterday under Mr Tinnu's leadership and several of his supporters had announced to quit BSP to express solidarity with Mr Tinnu.

Mr Tinnu claimed that over 200 of his supporters including BSP state general secretary Darbara Singh Kamboj had quit BSP to join his camp.

He said that he had never showed disrespect or disregard for the BSP high command and Ms Mayawati but was only trying to raise the workers' feeling before the leadership.However, in return he had been gifted with expulsion without giving an opportunity to put forth his point before the high command.

However, party state president Mr Karimpuri refuted his claims.

Talking to UNI Mr Karimpuri said that Tinnu was having support of only a handful of workers and he had made bogus claims before the media.

Mr Karimpuri said Mr Tinnu had claimed that BSP general secretary Darbara Singh Kamboj had also resigned from the post. Mr Karimpuri said that Mr Kamboj was neither a general secretary nor he held any post in BSP at any point of time.

Mr Karimpuri said that similar bogus claims had been made for in respect of other BSP functionaries and office bearers.

He said that no no BSP office bearer had resigned for Mr Tinnu.

Moreover, party had already closed the Tinnu chapter for all practical purposes.

The issue of alliance had not haunted the BSP Punjab unit for the first time but the same had confronted it earlier too.

On one of such occasions the party even faced a split under the leadership of then leader of the opposition Satnam Singh Kainth in 1998.

Mr Kainth told UNI that after having an alliance with Shiromani Akali Dal(SAD), the BSP had performed well in 1996 Parliamentary elections and won three seats from the state.

He said that he had later suggested to then party supremo Kanshi Ram to have an alliance for the 1997 state assembly elections but his suggestion was not heard and BSP strength in the Assembly had come from 9(in 1992) to one in 1997 elections.

Later 1998 Kainth had quit the BSP to form new group Bahujan Samaj Morcha(BSM) and won the Philluar(Reserved) Parliamentary seat from the state with an alliance with the Shiromani Akali Dal(SAD).

On the present development in the BSP Mr Kainth said that he did not want to make undue comments.

He said that he did not know who stood where but he is sure of the fact that there is widespread dissidence among the BSP workers over the BSP leadership's decision against alliance.

Mr Kainth said that several of the dissident BSP leaders including Mr Tinnu had conveyed their sentiments to him in this regard.

He said that several leaders were in constant touch with him and his morcha.

On the possibility of Mr Tinnu's next course of action Mr Kainth said that it is Mr Tinnu who had to decide in consultation with his supporters but if Tinnu opted to join BSM he is welcome.

UNI SS RP KN1644