Mayawati Criticises BJP and SP Alliance Ahead of Uttar Pradesh Bypolls

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Mayawati has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Samajwadi Party (SP) of collusion ahead of the November 13 bypolls in Uttar Pradesh. The BSP is contesting all nine seats independently. She criticised both parties for using misleading slogans to distract voters from their failures.

Mayawati highlighted the differences between her party's governance and that of the BJP and SP, claiming her tenure from 2007 to 2012 was superior in maintaining law and order. She stated, "BSP se Judenge toh Aage Badhenge, Surakshit Rahenge," emphasising that people will progress and remain safe under BSP's leadership.

Political Slogans and Allegations

Mayawati dismissed the slogans "Batenge toh Katenge" by BJP and "Judenge toh Jeetenge" by SP as tactics to mislead voters. She argued these slogans are attempts to hide their weaknesses and divert attention from their alliance's shortcomings. According to her, these slogans are designed to mislead voters.

Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya distanced BJP from the "Batenge toh Katenge" slogan, attributing it to a speech by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Maurya clarified that the party's official slogan is "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas," coined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Concerns Over Criminal Influence

Mayawati alleged that during SP's rule, criminals and mafia had significant influence over governance. She claimed that SP is discreetly signalling these elements to support them in the bypolls for future power. She urged voters to reject parties promoting divisive slogans and assured them of safety with BSP.

The upcoming bypolls in Uttar Pradesh will take place on November 13 across nine constituencies. These include Katehari, Karhal, Meerapur, Ghaziabad, Majhawan, Sishamau, Khair, Phulpur, and Kundarki. Eight seats became vacant after MLAs were elected as MPs in Lok Sabha polls; Sishamau's vacancy resulted from SP MLA Irfan Solanki's disqualification due to a criminal conviction.

Congress and Other Political Dynamics

The Congress is not participating in these bypolls but is supporting its INDIA bloc partner, SP. In the 2022 Assembly elections, SP won five of these seats while BJP secured four. The Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) won Meerapur. Mayawati also criticised Congress for not fulfilling past election promises.

In Maharashtra, Mayawati condemned Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant for using inappropriate language against a woman leader. She urged strict legal action against him. Meanwhile, she advised voters not to trust parties failing to deliver on promises and encouraged support for BSP instead.

The outcome of these bypolls will be crucial for political alignments in Uttar Pradesh. Results will be declared on November 23. Mayawati remains firm in her stance against BJP-SP collaboration and urges voters to choose wisely for better governance.