Mayawati says BJP-SP ‘alliance’ fighting UP by-polls, slams ‘misleading’ slogans

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Saturday accused the BJP and Samajwadi Party (SP) of being "hand in glove" in the run-up to the November 13 bypolls to nine Assembly constituencies in Uttar Pradesh in which the BSP is going solo on all seats.

Addressing select media here, she also slammed the two parties for their "misleading" slogans — BJP's 'Batenge toh Katenge' (divided we fall) and SP's 'Judenge toh Jeetenge' (united we win) — and said these are designed to divert people's attention from their own shortcomings.

Comparing the rule of BSP, SP and now the BJP in Uttar Pradesh, the former UP chief minister pitched her regime (2007-2012) as the best in terms of law and order.

"BSP se Judenge toh Aage Badhenge, Surakshit Rahenge (people will progress and remain safe in BSP's company)," Mayawati said, as she reiterated her "BJP-SP together" charge to blunt SP's claim of BSP being "BJP's B team".

"Ever since the bypolls were announced and the BSP decided to go solo on all nine seats, the BJP-BSP alliance has lost its sleep. Except for a couple of bypolls, BSP has not contested by-elections here," Mayawati said.

"They have so far been contesting elections with a mutual understanding, but now with the BSP contesting the bypolls, the troubles for their alliance have increased.