BSP declared 62 candidates for assembly

Bhopal, Mar 23: While main political parties ruling Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) and Congress are busy in show of strength in Betul by-election, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has already reached in election mode in view of forth coming assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh.

This way, BSP has become the first party in the sate to declare it candidates for assembly elections that are eight months away. Besides, Samajwadi party (SP) is also busy in contesting Betul by-election and thus could not finalise a strategy to contest assembly polls. Enthusiastic with the victory of BSP in Uttar Pradesh with its 'social engineering', the BSP had been conducting conventions of different communities including Rajputs, Brahmins and Muslims. In the series, a public meeting of BSP Supremo Mayawati was also orgnaised some time ago in Bhopal.

Following its election strategy, the BSP has already declared its candidates in 62 constituencies. Of them, maximum number of seats has been allotted to Brahmins, Rajputs are on the second, while OBCs are on the third. This has indicated the strategy of the BSP as how it is going in polls in November. State president of BSP Bhujbal Singh Ahirwar that the party would contest elections on all the 230 seats. Process for selecting candidates for remaining seats also continues. "My name has also been finalized from Berasia, and thus as per party's constitution, I would tendered my resignation from the post after all the candidates are decided," he added.

He further informed that the party has decided not to contest Betul Lok Sabha by-election, the last fight in the state before assembly elections scheduled in November 2008. Ahirwar informed that the party would declare all the candidates by May. Those who have already been finalized, have been directed to reach their constituencies and start public contact campaign. They have also been directed to form bodies of all community members, he added.