BSP chief Mayawati earlier thanked Congress, for ensuring that all its MLAs voted for BSP candidate even as SP, the party with which she has officially aligned, could not guarantee all votes for BSP candidate.
LUCKNOW: Backing Mamta Banerjee’s idea of a strong opposition against the BJP, the leadership of BSP is aiming to not field its candidates in the twin Congress strongholds Rae Bareli and Amethi parliamentary seats in the upcoming general election.
The Samajwadi Party has not been fielding its candidates in Amethi since 2004 and in Rae Bareli since 2009 Lok Sabha elections.
Sources close to BSP chief Mayawati have confirmed the reports and said that the move would stop the division of votes and pit BJP in a direct electoral contest with Congress.
As senior BSP leader said that āOne cannot rule out chances of party staying away from Amethi and Rae Bareli if the alliance with SP materializesā.
In 2009 Lok Sabha elections, BSPās vote share in Amethi and Rae Bareli was 14% and 16% against BJPās 4% and 6%, respectively.
BJP had last won Rae Bareli Lok Sabha seat in 1996 and 1998 elections. But later, it fared poorly against Congress, even BSP overtook it in performance.
In 2014 elections, Smriti Irani contested from Amethi and its vote share in Amethi and Rae Bareli rose to over 34% and 21%, respectively.
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