SP demands derecognition of BSP as a national party

The Samajwadi Party (SP) today sought derecognition of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) as a national party for allegedly "extorting money for the birthday celebrations" of party president Mayawati.

In a letter to the Election Commission, SP General Secretary Amar Singh claimed that BSP workers and leaders were involved in extorting money from people for the birthday bash of their party supremo. The money collected was converted into demand drafts of small denominations issued in the name of Mayawati "to turn black money into white money", he alleged.

"I am issuing a CD, which has transcript of conversations of party leaders and functionaries which clearly shows that huge amounts collected are converted into demand drafts of smaller denominations issued in the name of Mayawati," Singh said here in the presence of SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, while showing what he claimed as a "sting operation" CD.

He asked the Election Commission to derecognise the BSP as a national party. Singh also wrote letters to the President and the Prime Minister demanding a CBI inquiry under the Prevention of Corruption Act into the alleged money collection drive by UP Chief Minister Mayawati.