SP women wing chief joins BSP

In 2002,Bajpai joined the SP alleging that “the Congress talked of brotherhood and secularism but practised the opposite”. She termed Mulayam Singh Yadav “a true socialist and follower of the ideals of Ram Manohar Lohia”.

During his rule,Yadav made her the chairperson of State Women Commission and accorded her the status of a cabinet minister. She also became the national president of SP women wing.

On Saturday,however,she called Yadav “casteist” and “anti-Brahmin” and lauded the BSP chief Mayawati for her “secular politics”.

She slammed SP general secretary Amar Singh and said the party was now completely under his control and Yadav appeared helpless before him. “One wonders at the weakness of Yadav,Singh is cashing on. Instead of good politicians,the party is run by film stars and capitalists. Consequently,established leaders like Beni Prasad Verma,Raj Babbar,Rama Kant Yadav,Baleshwar Yadav and Raj Narain Budhaulia have deserted Yadav,” she said.

SP sources,however,said Bajpai was keen to get a ticket from Sitapur constituency represented by late Rajendra Kumari Bajpai from 1985 to 1990. On being denied the ticket,Bajpai joined the BSP although she did not get a ticket from the new party. “I have not demanded anything from the party but I did ask the party chief to give me some responsibilities,” she added.

The BSP has made her the coordinator for eight Lok Sabha constituencies namely,Sitapur,Mohanlalganj,Lakhimpur,Mishrikh,Allahabad,Hardoi,Fatehpur and Dhaurahra.

Ashok Bajpai is contesting the Lok Sabha polls on BSP ticket from Allahabad.