Amid mass defections, Mayawati calls SP 'anti-Dalit' party

Lucknow (UP), Jan 15: As several leaders from the BJP shifted allegiance to the Samajwadi Party (SP) saying it worked for the Dalits and backward classes, BSP supremo Mayawati on Saturday pooh-poohed the claim saying the party's past record shows its "anti-Dalit" approach.

Mayawati also clarified that she would not contest the Assembly elections, but take the legislative council route, if her party is voted to power. Addressing a press conference on her birthday, she announced names of 53 BSP candidates for constituencies that would go to the polls in the first phase on February 10.

"The SP's past record shows it always took an anti-Dalit approach," Mayawati said. She sought to know why the Akhilesh Yadav-led party renamed Sant Ravidas Nagar to Bhadohi soon after assuming power in 2012. "Wasn't this due to its anti-Dalit thinking," she asked.