Crisis pulls down BSP even before take off

The BSP plunges into a crisis with its state president Balwant Singh quitting the party’s primary membership alleging irregularities in election funds and allotment of tickets.

Even before setting up base in Himachal Pradesh, the BSP has plunged into a crisis with its state president Balwant Singh quitting the party’s primary membership on Monday alleging irregularities in election funds and allotment of tickets.

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Singh told mediapersons that the party’s chances of winning even a few seats in the elections had receded because of these irregularities. He said the BSP had fielded Congress and BJP rebels in majority of the 65 assembly constituencies though several of them were not primary members.

Singh gave the example of Kangra district with a maximum of 16 constituencies, claiming that 13 of the candidates selected by the BSP were not even party members.

Accusing state party incharge Man Singh Manhera as well as convenor Vijai Singh Mankotia of “destroying” the party in Himachal, he said they had “bartered the interests of the party for petty personal gains”.

Singh, who has been with the party since 1981, accused Manhera of purchasing a building over Rs 1 crore at Kharar in Punjab besides owning four imported luxury cars, while party activists were being denied basic facilities to carry out the campaign.

He said the party had left its ideological moorings far behind, adding that he would continue to work for the upliftment of the weaker sections and Dalits in particular.