Despite the support of the former minister and Congress MP, Beni Prasad Verma, for the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council election from the local authorities’ constituencies, the Congress will oppose the ruling party in the polls to be held on January 7.
Mr. Verma, who is the MP from Kaiserganj, has announced his support for BSP’s Hargovind Singh in the election from the Barabanki local authority constituency. His decision has drawn flak from the Congress as the BSP is considered its main political adversary. However, no disciplinary action was forthcoming against the former Samajwadi Party rebel as the Congress leadership itself kept away from the controversy.
Reiterates stand
Mr. Verma had announced his support for the BSP candidate on Saturday and reiterated his decision at a press conference in Barabanki on Sunday. Mr. Verma reasoned out his support for the ruling party candidate by reportedly stating that since the Congress had not fielded its candidate in Barabanki local authority constituency, he had decided to support the BSP in order to defeat the Samajwadi Party nominee.
The Congress MP reportedly claimed that he has the “silent approval” for his decision to back the BSP from the AICC general secretary and in charge for Uttar Pradesh affairs, Digvijay Singh. However, sources close to the former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister rejected Mr. Verma’s claim.
‘Individual decision’
Congressmen have been quick to dissociate themselves from Mr. Verma’s stand. His move was dubbed as his individual decision and not that of the Congress. Among those who have not taken kindly to Mr. Verma’s decision is the Congress MP from Barabanki and former State bureaucrat, P.L. Punia. Party sources said the Congress would ensure the defeat of the BSP candidate in Barabanki.
‘Eyeing ticket for son’
Though elected MP from Kaiserganj, Barabanki is the home district of Mr. Verma and his decision to support the BSP candidate has been taken with an eye on the next Vidhan Sabha elections. It has been alleged that he was basically interested in his son, Rakesh Verma, getting a BSP ticket in the 2012 Assembly polls.
