BSP MP accuses Mayawati of charging money for party seats

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MP Jugal Kishore on Sunday accused party chief Mayawati of charging money from fellow party members to allot party seats, adding that the elephant has strayed far from it ideals and principles.

"I joined the BSP because of the principles of the party and because of the vision of Kanshi Ram. However, the BSP has changed its colours. The party has started taking money at a very high level and they have been asking candidates for Rs. 50 lakh for a good constituency and up to Rs. one or two crore for a candidacy under the general seat," Kishore told the media here.

"When I raised objections against this with Mayawati and told her that this was hurting the party's image, she relieved me of all the posts," he added.

Kishore further stated that practices like this have hurt the BSP politically.

"The BSP was the country's third largest political force; today it has slipped to become UP's third largest party. I feel that in the next assembly elections, the BSP will not win more than 40 seats," he added.

However, the BSP leader remained tight-lipped about which party he will pledge his support to in the near future.

"I have never thought beyond the BSP. However, if the BSP itself does not want me as their candidate, I shall move out. I will now consult with other leaders from my community as to which party I should join," he said.