A day after Rajya Sabha MP Jugal Kishore alleged that Bahujan Samaj Party president Mayawati had taken money in return for election tickets, her loyalists launched a counterattack, accusing the Uttar Pradesh MP of amassing property in Lucknow and Lakhimpur. The charges levelled by Mr. Kishore, a Dalit and former zonal coordinator of the BSP — a few days before Ms. Mayawati’s birthday bash on January 15 — have caused ripples in the party.
On Monday, the BSP national general secretary and Leader of Opposition in the Vidhan Sabha, Swami Prasad Maurya, slammed Mr. Kishore for levelling “baseless allegations against Behenji [Mayawati]”. Mr. Maurya charged Mr. Kishore with misusing his position as the BSP’s zonal coordinator in Purvanchal (Eastern Uttar Pradesh). “Mr. Kishore as the zonal coordinator of Purvanchal changed the candidates for the elections several times for economic gains,” Mr. Maurya alleged.
At a press conference here, Mr. Maurya said Mr. Kishore had approached the media with his allegations after he came to know that Ms. Mayawati had dropped his son from the list of candidates for the 2017 Assembly elections. The Leader of Opposition accused Mr. Kishore of seeking, with his tirade, to appease leaders of other parties in the hope of getting a ticket for his son. “There is a possibility of Mr. Kishore joining the BJP,” Mr. Maurya said.
Disciplinary action may be taken against Mr. Kishore for indulging in anti-party activities, the BSP leader said.
