IN THE first indication that the SP-BSP alliance may not hold, BSP chief Mayawati Monday referred to the SP’s poor performance while analysing the Lok Sabha poll debacle in Uttar Pradesh, and did not mention the poll partner while saying that her party would contest bypolls to the Assembly this year.
BSP sources told The Indian Express that Mayawati, while addressing her party’s MPs and office-bearers in a closed-door meeting in the Capital, also said that the future of the alliance would be reviewed.
When contacted, SP spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary said his party will “decide its stand” Tuesday after its chief Akhilesh Yadav returns to Lucknow from Azamgarh.
The SP and BSP had first tied up before the Lok Sabha bypolls in the state in early 2018. After the alliance defeated the BJP in Gorakhpur, Phulpur and Kairana, the two sides decided to extend their tie-up to the general elections last month.
However, the “gathbandhan” could manage just 15 seats between them in UP,…