BSP denies former zonal co-ordinator's charge of ticket trading

Lucknow, Jan 5: BSP today rejected allegations by its former zonal co-ordinator Jugal Kishore that party supremo Mayawati sold Assembly and Parliamentary tickets in return for money and said "disciplinary action" may be initiated against him.

Bahujan Samaj Party National General Secretary Swami Prasad Maurya told newspersons here that the Rajya Sabha MP's "absurd" charges have come only after his son was denied party

for the next Assembly polls.

"Ever since Jugal Kishore came to know that Mayawati has denied ticket to his son from Lakhimpur (R) seat, he has been levelling absurd charges and disciplinary action might soon be initiated against him", Maurya said.

Holding Kishore responsible for BSP's poor show in the eastern region of the state during last Assembly polls, Maurya said that some workers of his (Kishore's) home district have alleged that he has amassed massive wealth in Lakhimpur and Lucknow and the party on coming to power must order an inquiry into it.

"Jugal Kishore is trying to please the political adversaries of BSP by speaking in their language to help his son get ticket", Maurya said, adding, he was airing views similar to expelled party leader, Babu Singh Kushwaha, who is presently lodged in jail in connection with NRHM scam, as it is believed that Kushwaha's ill gotten wealth has been invested with Kishore.

"People in his home district believe that he would join the BJP", Maurya said.

Asked about party MLA Bala Prasad Awasthi raising allegations of money being demanded for things like party calender, Maurya said he was speaking like a BJP man after his son joined that party three months ago.

To a question on some senior leaders deserting the party recently, Maurya said they have all been shown the door by the party and recalled that those who have betrayed the party have not been able to hold ground in the past.

Jugal Kishore had yesterday charged the party chief of trading Assembly and Parliamentary tickets in lieu of money.

"I was sidelined only when I objected this practice of the BSP supremo and urged her to put a full stop over it," Kishore had said and alleged that he was asked to pay Rs 50 lakh to get party ticket for his son Saurabh Singh from the Kasta Assembly seat.

PTI