BSP calls off alliance with INLD, says Chautala family split 'weakened' tie-up

Blaming the split within the Chautala family for "weakening" the alliance, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Saturday snapped its nearly nine-month-old association with Haryana's main opposition the INLD and forged ties with the LSP, an outfit floated by rebel BJP MP Raj Kumar Saini.

The development came three days after Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) leader Abhay Chautala had claimed that the alliance was intact.

The party had suffered a humiliating defeat in the Jind Assembly bypoll, with its candidate Umed Singh Redhu forfeiting his security deposit and was reduced to fifth position.

On the other hand, the Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) which came into existence following INLD split, put up a spirited fight and its candidate Digvijay Singh Chautala secured second position as the BJP won the seat.

The BSP's Haryana in-charge Meghraj on Saturday said, "On the directions of BSP national president Mayawati, the party ends ties with the INLD as the alliance is getting weakened because of the Chautala family split."
He said, "We gave more respect to the BSP leaders and workers than ours. Answers to why they broke the alliance and why they separated can only be given by the BSP leaders."
JJP convener and Hisar MP Dushyant Chautala in Ambala said, "To those who used to raise question about our existence and say that this organisation (JJP) cannot work, the people of Jind have shown them that if any alternative exists in the state that is the JJP."
Replying to questions from the media, Meghraj said, "Our leader Mayawati gave them a chance to stay united. When we entered into an alliance, the INLD was one party. But after the Chautala family split, we got a chance to judge them in Jind bypoll and found that if the family fight polls separately then anti-people forces will again come to the fore."
"But the objective of removing the BJP from the power was not going to be achieved with this alliance."