Lucknow,

15 Jan (HS): Uttar Pradesh BJP president Pankaj Choudhary said on Thursday that

Bahujan Samaj Party head Mayawati's choice to contest the next elections alone

was an internal affair of her party. In response to Mayawati's pronouncement

that the BSP will eschew partnerships in the future elections, Choudhary told

reporters in Lucknow that it was her personal and party decision to

form an alliance. It is entirely up to them to decide who to support and who to

oppose. He indicated it was up to them to make the decision. Choudhary spoke

during a meeting of the BJP's cells and departments in the state capital

earlier that day. He said the event, attended by coordinators from across the

state, was aimed at ensuring that the BJP-led government's welfare measures

reach the grassroots. The emphasis was on bringing the government's plans to

the people and guaranteeing successful publicity and execution, he explained.

Earlier

in the day, Mayawati, who turned 70 on Thursday, told a press conference at the

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) headquarters that the party had decided it was

more appropriate to fight all small and large elections, including

the 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, independently and would not form any

kind of alliance with any other party. There

should be no misunderstanding here. She stated that the BSP will contest the

upcoming Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh alone. She stated that previous

experience had demonstrated that coalitions benefitted BSP's partners more than

the BSP.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi