SP, BSP to collectively fight against BJP in UP bypolls
The two arch-rivals in the Uttar Pradesh politics, Bahujan Samaj Party and the Samajwadi Party, have decided to come together to fight against the BJP in the upcoming by-polls.
Polls in Gorakhpur and Phulpur Lok Sabha constituencies are scheduled to be held on March 11.
The seat in the two constituencies was vacated by Yogi Adityanath and his deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya in 2017.
Upendra Dutt Shukla will contest for BJP from Gorakhpur, Kushalendra Singh Patel will be its candidate from Phulpur.
Sunil Singh SP MLA said "All I know is BSP does not contest by-elections. At both places where by-elections are being held, SP will give a strong fight to defeat the BJP".
"The workers of the BSP want to eliminate BJP and that is why the members of Bahujan Samaj Party have decided to extend support and vote for Samajwadi Party candidate Nagendra Singh Patel in Phulpur by-poll," said Ashok Gautam, BSP Zonal Coordinator from Allahabad.
BSP in charge from Gorakhpur, Ghanshyam Chandra Kharwar, has declared his support to Samajwadi Party candidate Praveen Kumar Nishad in upcoming Gorakhpur by-poll.
All I know is BSP does not contest by-elections. At both places where by-elections are being held, SP will give a strong fight to defeat the BJP: Sunil Singh Yadav, SP on reports of BSP support to SP for #Gorakhpur & #Phulpur by-elections pic.twitter.com/jUWwmI7ija
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 4, 2018
Our workers want to eliminate BJP & that is why the members of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) have decided to extend support & vote for Samajwadi Party (SP) candidate Nagendra Singh Patel in Phulpur by-poll: Ashok Gautam, BSP Zonal Coordinator, Allahabad pic.twitter.com/R2vRFY6Lx5
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 4, 2018
BSP (Bahujan Samaj Party) Gorakhpur in-charge Ghanshyam Chandra Kharwar declared support to Samajwadi Party (SP) candidate Praveen Kumar Nishad in upcoming Gorakhpur by-poll pic.twitter.com/4f1YSou3ho
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 4, 2018
While no clarification has come from the SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, party spokesperson Pankhuri Pathak has tweeted that the two parties will fight the by-polls together.
BSP & @samajwadiparty to fight by-polls together. It’s official. Congrats to both parties & all members . Time to score that win ????????✌????
— Pankhuri Pathak (@pankhuripathak) March 4, 2018
The SP and BSP had in the past fought together against the BJP in 1993 UP assembly elections.
SP aur BSP, BJP ki aayi bhaadh ke kaaran ek hone ko majboor hui hain. Suna tha jab baadh aati hai, saanp aur nevla ek hi daal par baith jaate hain,dushmani chod dete hain. Jab pyaas lagti hai, sher aur bakri ek hi ghat par paani pee lete hain. Aisa hi ye gathbandhan hai: L Bajpai pic.twitter.com/kOcR8f7J5B
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 4, 2018