Nitish to take part in BSP rebel's rally

Lucknow, Jul 15: Indicating realignment of political forces before the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, Bihar Chief Minister and JD-U president Nitish Kumar will take part in a rally organised by BSP rebel RK Chaudhary here on July 26.

"Nitish Kumar has agreed to attend the BS-4 (Bahujan Samaj Swabhiman Sangharsh Samiti) rally scheduled at the Bijli Pasi Quila here on July 26," Chaudhary said.

Kumar will be the chief guest, Chaudhary, a Dalit leader and once close confidant of BSP supremo Mayawati, said. Reiterating his charge that Mayawati has deviated from the path shown by BSP founder Kanshi Ram, he said the party has been reduced to private real estate company of the BSP president.

"There could be a big rebellion in the BSP any time now... workers are looking for a solid alternative," he said. Chaudhary had quit BSP on June 30 accusing Mayawati of "auctioning" tickets to contest Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, a charge levelled by three other BSP rebels who quit, including Swami Prasad Maurya, an OBC leader.

"At time of elections, tickets are allotted to the person who pays the highest amount," Chaudhary and Maurya had alleged. Testing the political waters in poll bound UP, Kumar has been holding rallies in certain parts of the state, particular the eastern parts, promising complete prohibition among others.

PTI