Mankotia to be CM if BSP voted to power in HP, says Mayawati

Dharamshala, Jul 26 (UNI) BSP supremo and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati today announced that suspended Congress leader Vijai Singh Mankotia will be the party's chief ministerial candidate in case the party was voted to power in the next assembly elections.

Addressing an impressive rally here, she said she did not want to keep people in the dark and was publicly announcing that Mr Mankotia, who has joined the party today, would be projected as its Chief Ministerial candidate.

Mr Mankotia has also been appointed convenor of the party in Himachal Pradesh to organise the party and gear it up for polls, she said.

Ms Mayawati said since assembly elections were only six months away, Mr Mankotia and other BSP leaders have a gigantic task at hand and they would have run against time.

''Reins of the BSP have been handed over to Mr Mankotia in Himachal to organise and strengthen the party.'' Speaking on the occasion, Mr Mankotia said that the BSP has given a new direction and lead to the country and the social engineering concept of the party would foster social harmony and reduce socio-economic inequalities.

He called upon the people of the state to join the war against corruption and socio-economic disparities and declared that Ms Mayawati would be Prime Minister of the country after the 2009 Lok Sabha polls.

UNI