Was waiting to teach lesson to Cong, Gehlot for merging BSP MLAs: Mayawati

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati on Tuesday said her party decided to "teach a lesson" to theCongress and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot for the "unconstitutional" merger of its MLAs in the state by moving the high court.

She also said BSP had been waiting for the "right time" to hit back atthe Congress for the merger.

The BSP on Tuesday had approached the Rajasthan High Court seeking to become a party in the petition by BJP against the merger of six BSP MLAs in the state with Congress party.

In a statement, Mayawati said after the results of the Rajasthan assembly elections, the BSP had supported the Congress to keep "communal forces" at bay.
 

The BSP chief claimed that after becoming the chief minister, Gehlot acted "unconstitutionally" to merge the six BSP MLAs in the state with the Congress party.

Mayawati said Gehlot's move was against the 10th schedule of the Constitution dealing with defections.

A whip was issued on Sunday by the BSP to its MLAs to vote against the Congress government in case of a trust vote.

Mayawati said the BSP could have gone to court earlier on the matter, but was looking for the "right time" to "teach a lesson" to Congress party and Gehlot.

The BSP, she said, "took the correct decision" to move court "at the right time". She said her party would also approach the Supreme Court, if the need arises, in the case.