PTI

 

LUCKNOW/NEW DELHI

In a blow to the prospects of an Opposition grand alliance to take on the ruling BJP in the Lok Sabha polls, BSP chief Mayawati on Tuesday said her party will not have an election tie-up with the Congress in any state.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also asserted his party will win all seven Lok Sabha constituencies in Delhi “on its own”, a day after AICC president Rahul Gandhi asked Congress workers to ensure victory on the seats.

Mayawati’s statement drew a sharp retort from the Congress, with its Uttar Pradesh unit spokesperson saying, “We don’t need her.”

In a statement, Mayawati said, “It is being made clear again that the Bahujan Samaj Party will not have any electoral alliance with the Congress in any state.”

Referring to her party’s pre-poll alliance with Akhilesh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh, Mayawati said it is based on “mutual respect” and “honest intentions”.

“The SP-BSP alliance is perfect enough to defeat the BJP, especially in Uttar Pradesh,” she said.

Kejriwal’s statement has come after Gandhi on Monday addressed Delhi Congress booth workers and asked them to ensure the party’s victory on all

Lok Sabha seats in Delhi.

Asked about AAP’s possible alliance partners, Kejriwal said, “We are not in talks with Congress for alliance”.

“I am saying very responsibly that AAP is going to win all seven parliamentary seats in Delhi on its own,” he said, adding he had no communication with the Congress and he knows as much as the media knows.

“We are hearing statements from Congress that it would not enter into alliance with AAP. But according to our internal surveys, AAP will be winning with a heavy majority on all seven seats and there are four reasons for it,” he said.