Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati criticised the Samajwadi Party(SP) on Monday for what she deemed as inappropriate candidate selections in Uttar Pradesh's ongoing election race.
Speaking at rallies in Pilibhit and Moradabad, Mayawati accused the SP of fielding candidates based on religious demographics rather than merit, alleging that the SP fielded Hindus in "Muslim-dominated constituencies" and Muslims in seats where Hindus dominate.
Mayawati said the BSP, unlike the SP, has given proper representation in ticket allocation to members of the 'Sarv Samaj'. The SP chief urged the Muslim community not to split their votes, cautioning that doing so could benefit the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). "If the Muslim community splits its votes and votes for the Congress, then the BJP will get the benefit," she had said at a rally in Saharanpur.
"In this Lok Sabha election, no new drama, jumlebazi or guarantee will work as the people of the country have understood that the promise of 'achche din' made to the poor and weaker sections has not yet been fulfilled," she said while addressing the rally in Pilibhit. She also criticised the BJP, accusing them of favouring capitalists and neglecting the development of minorities.
"The condition of Muslims and other minorities is also not good. In the past few years, it is because of the BJP-RSS government that their development has been affected. Atrocities are being committed in the guise of Hindutva," she alleged.
Mayawati also slammed the Congress for its manifesto making "tall promises", highlighting its failure to secure people's mandate despite years in power.
"Now the BJP and their supporting parties have come to power at the Centre and many states. But their narrow communal thinking and policies of hatred show that there is a vast difference between what they do and say," she remarked.
Mayawati expressed confidence that the BJP would not return to power at the Centre if elections were conducted fairly.
"If we get a chance to form a government at the centre, unlike any of these parties, we will not make tall or paper promises but will do solid work on the ground like it did in Uttar Pradesh. In the garb of religion, especially Hindutva, Muslims are being exploited with the feeling of hatred, and this will also be stopped; our government will stop this," she asserted.
Mayawati appealed to voters not to support the Congress or BJP, urging them to vote for the BSP for the betterment of all sections of society.
During her campaign, Mayawati endorsed BSP candidates for various constituencies, including- Mohd Irfan Saifi (Morababad), Zeeshan Khan (Rampur), Atar Ali (Nainital/ Udham Singhnagar), Anis Ahmed Khan alias Phool Babu (Pilibhit), and Dodram Verma (Shahjahanpur-reserved).
She also backed the party's candidate Sarvesh Chand Mishra for the Dadraul assembly bypoll.
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