Maya magic may work in Punjab: Karimpuri

Patiala, Jan 23: Punjab BSP unit chief and Rajya Sabha member from Uttar Pardesh Avtar Singh Karimpuri on Monday claimed that the magic of BSP supremo Mayawati would work in Punjab after her four rallies which concluded in the state.

Talking to reporters Karimpiri said that "the magic of Bhenji (sister) will certainly work in Punjab as she had addressed four big rallies in the state during the last couple of days." He said that Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati's message was clear that the BSP would contest Punjab elections without any alliance, and concentrate on consolidating its own vote bank.

"We would make dent into the votes of Congress as well as SAD," he said.

Asked about any regret that they don't have alliance with Manpreet Singh Badal's People's Party of Punjab, he said that "the talks with them never initiated and therefore we don't have any regret on it. I however wish him a good luck as it will be benefitted to us if Sanja Morcha does well in the state and we would certainly emerge in the scene of the state," he asserted.

"The BSP is not having alliance in any state as our party is not only for political gains but for overall socio-economic change, which we will attain on our own strength," Karimpuri said.

After a decade and a half, the BSP has a target to achieve—increase its vote share that declined to 4.13 per cent in 2007 assembly polls from 5.69 per cent in 2002 and 6.37 per cent in the 1997 assembly elections.

In 1992, the BSP won nine assembly seats with the SAD boycotting the elections. But the party drew blank in the previous three assembly polls in absence of any alliance.

Mayawati had addressed elections rallies at Kharar, Nawan Shehar, Muktsar and Chappar covering whole of Punjab.

PTI