BSP allows workers to contest local body polls as independents

BSP national president Mayawati has accepted requests from the party workers for contesting the local body elections, but only as independent candidates, a party spokesman here said.

However, the to-be contestants cannot use the party flag, name or pictures of either BSP founder Kanshi Ram or its president Mayawati on any hand bill, poster or banner, he added.

She has also appealed to the party's district and vidhan sabha units to back contesting candidates and help them win their respective seats, he added.

On March 11, after the BSP lost the UP vidhan sabha elections to Samajwadi Party, Mayawati had directed party workers not to contest urban local bodies polls.

She had expressed fears about return of 'goondaraj' in Uttar Pradesh and said BSP would not contest the upcoming local body polls, apprehending that the ruling Samajwadi Party might target its candidates.

Elections will be held for 630 urban local bodies in the state, including 13 municipal corporations, 195 Nagar Palika Parishads and 423 Nagar Panchayats soon.