Una: The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) today claimed that it was gaining political ground in the state. President Balwant Singh addressing media persons here today, he said, it was the BSP which had not only announced its Chief Ministerial candidate well in advance, but had also taken the lead in formally launching the poll campaign from today.
‘The results at the party’s political laboratory in Uttar Pradesh would be used in Himachal Pradesh’, said the BSP President, claiming that the people of the hill state have been ‘befooled and cheated’ by both, the BJP and the Congress. He thanked the Election Commission for declaring early elections, which put an end to the announcement of sops by Virbhadra Singh just before the polls in an attempt to applease different sections of the society.
Balwant said, party supremo Mayawati, on 26 July this year had anounced the name of Vijay Singh Mankotia as the Chief Ministerial candidate in Himachal Pradesh. ‘ While the infighting within the BJP was clearly visible, even the Congress party had failed to announce its candidate for the post of CM because of non-performance and for the fear of a possible split in the ranks and file of the organisation’, he said.
The BSP President said Mayawati had sanctioned a helicopter for campaigning in the tribal areas. The air service began today and was used by Mankotia and Maan Singh Manhera, incharge of party affairs in the state, reiterating that their party would contest on all 68 seats. He added that the party will not annunce any manifesto, but would give a ‘bond’ to the people of the state regarding putting an end to corruption, providing employment to youh and underaking a developmental spree.
The state BSP unit also cautioned the congress party against its reported efforts to ‘inaugurate’ a wing of the Tanda medical college. Balwant said, if the Congress ministers try to do any such thing on 16 October, they would resist the move and represent to the election commission.
Dr KR Arya, Former Chairman of the Technical Committee of the Rehabilitation Council of India and Col. Dev Raj (Retd.) today joined the BSP. A former member of the BJP, Dr Arya was formally inducted into the BSP fold by state party president Balwant Singh. While Dr Arya hails from Una sadar constituency, Col Dev Raj’s comes from Chintpurni.
