Maya seeks votes for Akhilesh, says Cong, BJP same

BSP supremo Mayawati on Wednesday sought votes for her alliance partner and Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav, who was in the fray from Azamgarh Lok Sabha seat and faced 'Bhojpuri' film star Dinesh Lal Yadav alias Nirahua.

Addressing an election rally here with Akhilesh, the BSP supremo termed the BJP and Congress ''anti-reservation'' and claimed that BJP would be ''wiped out'' from UP in the ongoing general elections.

Apparently buoyed by an impressive crowd, that comprised a large number of women, Mayawati referred to the 'bua-bhatija' jibe by the BJP and said that the saffron party had only ''exposed'' itself by such remarks.

''The relations between us (bua-bhatija) is based on our cultural bonds...BJP people have no understanding of our age-old traditions,'' she said.

Mayawati also cautioned her supporters against, what she termed a ''conspiracy'' by the BJP to ''create differences'' between the BSP and SP. ''Realising that they will lose the polls, the BJP has now resorted to the policy of divide and rule,'' she said.

Akhilesh, in his address, said that the grand alliance in UP would ''end'' BJP's rule in the country.

Senior leaders of both BSP and SP were present at the rally. BSP supporters' green caps and SP supporters' red caps were interspersed in the crowd at the rally, which was the first joint rally of Akhilesh and Mayawati in Azamgarh. Polling here will be held on May 12.