The two leaders have not seen eye to eye ever since Mayawati was allegedly assaulted by SP cadres in VVIP Guest House in Lucknow in 1995, though the parties had run a coalition government in Uttar Pradesh for two years prior to that.
Ending their 24-year rivalry to take on the BJP, BSP supremo Mayawati shared the stage with Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav Friday and sought votes for him, saying he was a "real leader" of the backward communities "unlike" Prime Minister Narendra Modi whom she dubbed as "farzi" (fake).
The two leaders have not seen eye to eye ever since Mayawati was allegedly assaulted by SP cadres in VVIP Guest House in Lucknow in 1995, though the parties had run a coalition government in Uttar Pradesh for two years prior to that.
Speaking at the rally, Mayawati said she did not want to "waste time" by explaining reasons behind stitching an alliance with Samajwadi Party even after the treatment meted out to her during the government of Mulayam Singh Yadav. "I know people must be wondering why I have come here to campaign for Mulayam Singhji despite the state guest house case. In the interest of the country, public and party movement, sometimes we have to take such difficult decisions."
(With inputs from PTI)
1. Difficult alliance decision taken for nation despite guest house episode: Mayawati at Mulayam's rally
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Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati attended alliance partner Samajwadi Party patron Mulayam Singh's Yadav Mainpuri rally and asked people to vote for him.
Mayawati tried to justify her party's decision to fight Lok Sabha election 2019 in alliance with Samajwadi Party despite 1995 guest house incident when armed SP cadres assaulted BSP supremo when she was having a meeting in Lucknow Guest House. She said she did not want to "waste time" by explaining reasons behind stitching an alliance with Samajwadi Party even after the treatment meted out to her during the government of Mulayam Singh Yadav.
"I know people must be wondering why I have come here to campaign for Mulayam Singhji despite the state guest house case. In the interest of the country, public and party movement, sometimes we have to take such difficult decisions." (Photo: PTI)
2. Will never forget Mayawati's gesture for his last election: Mulayam Singh Yadav
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Addressing a joint rally with the BSP supremo, Mulayam Singh Yadav, who is contesting his last Lok Sabha polls from the SP citadel of Mainpuri, said he will never forget Mayawati's gesture for his "last election" and called his party workers and supporters to "always respect Mayawati ji", reflecting the changed ties.
He said Mayawati had come to seek votes for him in his last election which is he is contesting to respect the wishes of the people. "I want to tell all of you that you should all respect Mayawati ji. She has come to support me, I will never forget this," he said. (Photo: PTI)
3. Mulayam Singh Yadav true leader of backward classes unlike fake PM Modi: Mayawati
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BSP supremo speaking at Mulayam's Mainpuri rally said, "There is no doubt that Mulayam Singh has taken members of all sections of society especially other backward classes along with him under the SP banner and they consider him as their only and true leader ... he is not a 'naqli' or 'farzi' backward (leader) like Narendra Modi".
As an SP MLA bowed before Mayawati touching her feet, the SP patron, who was the first to address the rally, said, "I and Mayawatiji are on the same dais after a long time".
"Mulayam Singh Yadav has really taken care of this area. He has a special liking to Mainpuri so I want to say that he did not leave this area even at this age and promised to serve Mainpuri till his last breath like a real servant not a fake one like Narendra Modi. He has come to you. Do not forget 'cycle'," Mayawati added.
BSP chief also lauded Akhilesh Yadav calling him the "sole heir" of Mulayam Singh Yadav who is taking forward his legacy with dedication.
The BSP president fumbled while ending the speech and raised the customary 'Jai Bhim' slogan of her party. However, she quickly added "Jai Lohia and Jai Bharat'' slogan of Samajwadi Party. (Photo: PTI)
4. SP, BSP and RLD take on BJP in Lok Sabha election in Uttar Pradesh
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The Samajwadi Party (SP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Ajit Singh-led Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) have joined hands as the three parties have been facing existential crisis after the BJP bagged 71 seats out of 80 seats Lok Sabha polls and repeated its spectacular performance in 2017 assembly elections.
The BSP and RLD had failed to open account in 2014, while the SP had won five seats. The tie-up has proved a success against the BJP in bypolls in the state.
The leaders want to repeat the 1993 mid-term poll experiment when Kanshi Ram, the then BSP chief, and Mulayam Singh Yadav had joined hands to stop the BJP which was sailing on the Ram Temple movement wave. (Photo: PTI)
