SP has conceded defeat before UP polls, says Mayawati

Lucknow, Nov 5 (IANS) BSP chief Mayawati on Saturday said the ruling SP in Uttar Pradesh has conceded defeat before facing the assembly polls and advised the Muslim community not to "waste its vote" on them, as it would only benefit the BJP.

Addressing a press conference in the state capital, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader said the efforts by the Samajwadi Party (SP) to cobble together an alliance reflects that it has given up hope of winning the elections on its own.

"If the ruling Samajwadi Party had performed in the last five years, the SP chief would not have needed to enact the drama of being secular. His efforts to form a 'Mahagathbandhan' is a hollow attempt to mislead the people of Uttar Pradesh," she said.

She also made it clear that her party would not be part of any alliance and the BSP, like in the past, will go it alone in the polls.

Pointing to the divide within the SP, the Dalit leader said at many places, candidates of the party would be divided in Shivpal and Akhilesh camps and would work to defeat each other.

"The Samajwadi Party leaders may try to project a united face, but the fact is that when the election will come, supporters of different leaders will work to defeat the candidates of the rival group," Mayawati said.

If that happens, the benefit would go directly to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the former Chief Minister said and alleged that it was the actual game plan of both these parties.

"The BJP and the SP are working in tandem and have joined hands," she said, adding that the people are smart enough to read between the lines.

The BSP supremo also took a dig at the BJP, saying the ruling party at the Centre wants to bring about a 'ghatak' (destructive) change in the state.

"Under the BJP, the democratic values are getting a blow. The country is heading towards dictatorship which can harm the country. So, there is a need to stand against them," she said, adding that even the borders of our country are not safe under this regime.

She said that the BJP is trying to take political mileage out of the current nationalistic mood in the country.

The BSP chief also condemned a day's ban on NDTV India TV news channel, saying that the Narendra Modi government is killing democracy to hide its failures of the last two-and-a-half years.