BSP pulls out of UP panchayat election, says 'will focus on assembly polls'

Instead of contesting the zila parishad chairmen's elections, the party has decided to channelize its efforts on strengthening the organisation and expanding its base, Mayawati told reporters. At the same time, she said her party would have fought the zila chairpersons' elections if they were being held in a fair manner.

Lucknow: BSP president Mayawati on Monday (June 28) said her party will not contest the zila panchayat chairpersons' elections so that it can focus on next year's assembly polls, drawing accusations from the Congress that she is pulling out to help the ruling BJP. She said people wanted the Bahujan Samaj Party to form the government next year --- and it will go to the polls with the slogan that Uttar Pradesh must be 'saved'. Instead of contesting the zila parishad chairmen's elections, the party has decided to channelize its efforts on strengthening the organisation and expanding its base, Mayawati told reporters. At the same time, she said her party would have fought the zila chairpersons' elections if they were being held in a fair manner. Polling for the district panchayat chiefs in Uttar Pradesh will take place on July 3. About 3,000 recently elected district panchayat members across UP will vote for these posts. Mayawati's decision prompted a sharp response from the Uttar Pradesh Congress.