Swami Prasad Maurya quits BSP, accuses Mayawati of auctioning tickets

In a big jolt to the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls due next year, party heavyweight Swami Prasad Maurya quit the party on Wednesday and accused party supremo Mayawati of auctioning tickets.

Addressing a press conference here, Maurya said it is a do or die situation for the party in 2017 when the state goes to polls.

"Instead of selecting good candidates, who are loyal to the policies of the party, Mayawati is auctioning tickets to the highest bidder," he added.

Escalating his attack on Mayawati, Maurya accused BSP supremo is killing the ideologies of party founder Manohar Kashi Ram and Dr. Babarao Ambedkar.

"She is doing a deal with the ideologies of Ambedkar and the way tickets are being auctioned in a big way, the BSP has become a market of auction. They have tried to change the policy propagated by Manohar Kashi Ram ji," he added.

Maurya, who was the Leader of Opposition in Uttar Pradesh Assembly, further stated that if Mayawati would have followed the paths of Ambedkar and Kashi Ram then the BSP would have come to power in 2012 as there was no anti-incumbency factor then.

While it is yet unclear as to what will be Maurya's next move, media reports suggest that he might join the Samajwadi Party.