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The rebel BSP MLAs who met Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday are in a dilemma over joining the new party. Right now, the prime objective of the rebel MLAs is to avoid disqualification from the membership of Vidhan Sabha on the grounds of defection. Some of the rebels are trying to form a new party and later merge it with the SP while some are in touch with the BJP and also their parent party.
The sharp attack on the Samajwadi Party by the BSP chief Mayawati on Wednesday added to the discomfiture of the rebel MLAs.
“The Samajwadi Party is propagating in the media that some BSP MLAs are switching over to the SP, which is a hoax. These MLAs were suspended from the BSP long ago for defeating the son of a Dalit in the Rajya Sabha elections to connivance with the SP and an industrialist,” Mayawati said on Wednesday.
She also questioned the political integrity of the Samajwadi Party, saying: “Had the SP been even a little honest towards these suspended MLAs, it would not have kept them in limbo till now.”
SP sources said Akhilesh Yadav has given a broad hint that his party is willing to accommodate five rebel BSP MLAs and give them party tickets for the 2022 assembly elections, provided they formally join the party.
The rebels, despite the assurance, are unwilling to join the Samajwadi Party. While one faction is trying to mobilise the 11 MLAs to form a new party, some are still in touch with BSP for a patch-up, provided they are accommodated in the party with honour and are given tickets for the next assembly elections.