'Kanshiram-Mulayam' slogans at BSP meet

Although no formal talks have so far taken place between the SP and the BSP on the alliance in Uttar Pradesh for the next Lok Sabha polls, slogans of 'Kanshiram-Mulayam Singh Yadav' (BSP founder and SP patron respectively) were raised in a BSP meeting here on Monday.

The meeting, which was attended by senior BSP leaders, including its state president R S Kushwaha and others, was convened to discuss the strategy for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

The BSP leaders also pitched for projecting party supremo Mayawati for the post of prime minister by the possible 'Mahagathbandhan' (grand alliance).

''The alliance between behenji (Mayawati) and Akhilesh Yadav (SP president) will sweep the state in the next general elections....the feudal and communal forces will bite the dust,'' said a senior BSP leader while speaking at the meeting.

The leaders also said that projection of Mayawati as the PM face of the grand alliance would result in Dalits and other weaker sections supporting the opposition in a big way.

According to sources, leaders and workers were conveyed a message from Mayawati stating that the alliance between the SP and the BSP was a ''certainty''.

The sources also said that the seat sharing talks between the two parties were likely to begin in the next couple of months.

''Behenji wants to finalise the seat sharing arrangements at the earliest as we apprehend that the next general elections may be advanced,'' said another BSP leader. Mayawati had also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rallies in different parts of the country suggested that the 2019 polls might be advanced.