BSP to contest all 68 assembly seats in HP

Nahan, May 2 (UNI) The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has decided to field candidates from all the 68 assembly constituencies of the state in the assembly polls, due in February next year.

The BSP would emerge as a ''big political force'' by contesting the next state assembly elections and the balance of power would be in the party's hands, party's national general secretary and incharge of party affairs in Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Chandigarh Sardar Man Singh Manhera told mediapersons here.

He said the BSP would launch an agitation against the state government's failure on all fronts including the rising prices of essential commodities, next month.

Besides, the party would also initiate mass contact programme in the state to broaden its reach, Mr Manhera said.

He said party supremo Mayawati was also likely to visit the state in September as part of this exercise.

Paying tributes to Baba Sahib Bhim Rao Ambedkar, he said the BSP was the sole representative of the backward and downtrodden people and hoped that this section of the society in the state would identify with it.

Launching a scathing attack on both the Congress and the BJP, the BSP leader said while the Congress-led UPA Government was pursuing ''wrong policies'', the BJP was dividing the people on the basis of the construction of an ancient temple at Ayodhya.

''The Congress is bent upon converting India from ''Sone Ki Chiria'' to ''Sonia Ji Ki Chiria'', which is unfortunate,'' he said.

State party president Balwant Singh, who was also present on the occasion, expressed optimism that the Bahujan Samaj would support the party in the state.

UNI