BSP party may not contest against Congress in 2019 general elections

Lucknow: One’s loss is another man’s gain and that is exactly what BSP plans to avoid fielding its candidates in Rae Bareily and Amethi, two Congress strongholds in the coming 2019 general elections.

Opposition always gains an upper hand when parties don’t get along well, and that is exactly what BSP plans to stay away from loosing in these two states.

The reports have been confirmed by the BSP leaders who said not fielding its candidates would stop the division of votes and set the two parties directly against each other in the electoral contest.

SP party has not fielded its candidates in Amethi since 2004 and in Rae Bareli since 2009 Lok Sabha elections.

According to a senior BJP leader, triangular fight among two or more parties in Amethi would definitely go in the ruling party’s favour and this is exactly what the BSP, SP parties does not want to materialize.

A senior BSP leader said, “One cannot rule out chances of party staying away from Amethi and Rae Bareli if the alliance with SP materializes,” and “in doing so, the party may well be able to transfer its votes to Congress.”

Now the saffron party is eyeing the Rae Bareli and Amethi but ever since it tasted defeat in Lok Sabha seat in 1996 and 1998 elections, it has then fielded its candidates in the year 2014.

The BSP’s vote share in Amethi and Rae Bareli were 14% and 16% against BJP’s 4% and 6%, in 2009 Lok Sabha elections.

In the year 2004, BSP vote share was 17% in Amethi, while SP got 19% votes.

Smriti Irani was nominated to stand from Amethi and Rae Bareli in 2014 by the BJP after which the parties vote share to 34% and 21%, respectively.

A Congress leader speaking about the parties working on seat sharing said,“BSP and SP will decide which seats to contest based on their past performance while Congress will be given 10-12 seats where it is strong. These will definitely include Amethi and Rae Bareli.”

On the other hand Congress had been supporting BSP with its seven MLAs who have pledged to support BSP in elections. Though the party lost the Rajya Sabha election, the Mayawati led Party still thanked Congress for supporting its party for ensuring all its MLAs will vote for BSP Candidate at a time when the BSP party’s alliance SP could not guarantee votes from its party to BSP fielded candidate.