Lucknow: BSP chief Mayawati on Friday dismissed allegations of seeking financial aid from candidates during ticket distribution, asserting that all funds received by the party are lawful and mostly used to ensure candidates' electoral success, a fact that is not hidden from anyone.
Referring to a recent sting operation by a newspaper, she termed the claims "a conspiracy sponsored by the opposition" and urged party workers not to be misled. "Such allegations should not be taken at face value. One must examine the why and how behind it," she said.
She said a section of the media keeps raising questions on BSP's candidate selection procedure to divert people's attention from the election fixes that other parties are involved in. "BSP is a true and honest 'Ambedkarwadi' party that follows the paths shown by Baba Saheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar for the constitutional rights and justice of the 'Bahujan Samaj' and the poor, exploited, oppressed and neglected sections of the upper-caste society," Mayawati said.
She added that "It is a party of Sarvajan Hitay and Sarvajan Sukhay that does not run on the support, and at the behest of big capitalists like other parties do. It runs on the strength of the body, mind and resources of its own people, which does not sit well with narrow-minded, casteist, communal and capitalist forces."
The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister noted that it is for this reason that these parties keep trying to defame BSP and the movement, and its "Iron Lady leadership."
On BSP state president Vishwanath Pal's name cropping up in the sting for demanding cash, Mayawati clarified that it is not only him but all other office-bearers and workers are currently engaged in strengthening the party organisation and expanding its base and preparing a tentative list of candidates for the upcoming assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. "While screening the candidates, party leaders hold question-answer sessions with probable candidates to gauge, among other things, their social, political and economic standing, as well as their loyalty and steadfastness towards the party," she added.
It is not the first time that BSP, or its leadership, has faced such allegations. The party's membership books, given to workers and candidates to collect funds and make new members, have always been touted as an indirect way of demanding money. Many netas who have quit the party have openly spoken against this system. But Mayawati has always emphasised that the party runs on contributions from its workers and not on the money from industrialists.
