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BSP angry over refusal of venue for Mayawati rally

DEHRA DUN: Local Bahujan Samaj Party leaders are fuming at the Dehra Dun district administration’s refusal to allow a proposed election rally of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and party supremo Mayawati at the Rangers’ College ground here on May 11.

“The BJP-led Uttarakhand Government has not only asked the administration not to give permission for holding the rally but also acquired the buses we had booked a week ago for the rally and the bus operators are returning the advance money,” said BSP leader Subhash Kumar on Thursday.

Senior officials, however, ruled out any political interference as alleged by the BSP leaders. “The Rangers’ College ground is a Central Government property and no political rally has been held there till now,” they said, adding that holding a rally there would also attract action under the code of conduct now in force for the Lok Sabha elections.

The Parade Ground, where such political rallies are normally held, will be the venue for despatching polling parties from May 10 for the May 13 polling, it was stated.

The BSP has fielded rebel BJP MLA Munna Singh Chauhan for the Tehri Lok Sabha seat much to the chagrin of the ruling party as Mr. Chauhan enjoys considerable clout in the Jaunsar Bawar tribal belt of this constituency. Indications are that his presence would damage the prospects of not only the BJP candidate Jaspal Rana but also of the Congress candidate and sitting MP, Vijay Bahuguna.

BJP spokesperson Vishwas Dabar described the hype being created by the BSP over the venue issue as a political stunt. “They also know that the venue being used for electoral arrangements cannot be given for a rally on May 11,” he said.

The BSP might hold Ms. Mayawati’s rally at Sahaspur in western Dehra Dun which has a large number of Muslim and tribal voters.

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