The ruling Bahujan Samaj Party in Uttar Pradesh will not contest any more Vidhan Sabha and Lok Sabha by-elections in the State and would instead focus on the 2012 Assembly polls. This decision was taken by Chief Minister and BSP president Mayawati after the ruling party retained the Domariaganj Assembly seat on Monday.
A party release quoting the BSP president issued late on Monday night said that it has been decided to concentrate on strengthening the party organisation before the 2012 Assembly elections. Ms. Mayawati, however, said that her decision pertained to only the Vidhan Sabha and Lok Sabha bypolls. The party will contest the Vidhan Parishad ( Legislative Council ) and Rajya Sabha elections, the Chief Minister clarified.
Justifying her decision on not contesting the Assembly and Lok Sabha by-elections till 2012, Ms. Mayawati said with 227 MLAs in the Vidhan Sabha, the BSP has nothing else prove regarding its popularity among the people. The two- year period beginning now would be better utilised in expanding the party's support base, she said.
Referring to the BSP's victory in the Domariaganj Assembly bypoll, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister said that the win had underlined the ruling party's popularity and had exposed the Opposition propaganda of the BSP losing its sheen. She claimed that the ruling party's victory was made possible with the support of all the sections of the society, including Dalits, Muslims and Upper Castes.
The Domariaganj by-election was won by Khatoon Taufeeq of the BSP, who defeated her nearest rival, Prem Prakash alias Jippy Tiwari of Bharatiya Janata Party by a margin of 15,842 votes. The third place was bagged by the Peace Party of India candidate, Sachitananad, while the Samajwadi Party and the Congress were pushed to fourth and fifth places respectively. The bypoll was caused by the death of Taufeeq Ahmad of the BSP in January this year.
