Mayawati suspends seven rebel MLAs

BSP leer Mayawati on Thursday suspended seven of her party's rebel MLAs who h opposed mination of its official candidate Ramji Gautam for elections to Rajya Sabha.

Amid speculation that MLAs could switch sides in Uttar Presh, Mayawati also said that to ensure defeat of Samajwi Party candidates in future MLC elections, her party will vote for BJP or any or party's candidate.

former UP chief minister said as soon as rebel MLAs join any party, BSP would take action against m under anti-defection law. She said party organisation has been informed that suspended legislators should t be invited to any party function.

Mayawati said that her party will leave stone unturned to defeat SP candidates in future even if it means voting for candidates of BJP or any or party. Any candidate who dominates over SP's second candidate will get BSP MLAs' vote, she said in a statement.

In a jolt to BSP on Wednesday, six party MLAs reportedly met Samajwi Party chief Akhilesh Yav and later threw hints that y may switch sides.

Four of group of rebels also filed an affidavit, saying ir signatures on party candidate Gautam’s mination for Rajya Sabha polls h been “forged”.

move turned out to be futile with Returning Officer still accepting Gautam’s mination as Bahujan Samaj Party candidate for vember 9 biennial elections for 10 Uttar Presh seats that are falling vacant.

(Photo Credit: PTI)