Split in BSP8217;s MP unit

Talking to newsmen here, Progressive Bahujan Samaj Party president Balbir Singh Kushwaha and party8217;s new Legislature Party Leader Edal Singh Kansana alleged that BSP led by Kanshiram was not working to protect the interests of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes and minorities.

Alleging that the only work being carried out by the BSP at the grass-root level was collection of funds, they said every party worker has to pay donations from time to time and each district unit has been given a target for the fund-raising programme.

Replying to questions, Kansana said they wereinfluenced8217; by the policies and programmes of the Congress but ruled out the possibility of either joining the Congress or extending support to the Digvijay Singh government at present. He said the new party would also maintain distance from the Bharatiya Janata Party.

He also denied that the split in the BSP was engineered at the behest of state Chief Minister Digvijay Singh and Minister of State for Home Govind Singh.

The split in the BSP was being considered as a shot in the arm of the ruling Congress.

Party member Ratnakar said Congress had begun making efforts to wean away8217; the four MLAs, who formed a separate party, even before the Lok Sabha elections and it had succeeded now.

8220;The split in the Madhya Pradesh BSP has come about at the initiative of Congress,8221; he alleged.

He said there was no truth in the claim of the four MLAs that 80 per cent of the party workers were with them.