Lok Sabha elections: Backed by AAP, SP-BSP denies rift over candidate

NOIDA: Denying rumblings within the alliance, SP-BSP on Saturday put up a united front as they formally received support from the local unit of AAP.

Local leaders of the alliance also denied that the SP’s Narendra Bhati and Surendra Nagar were not on the same page and said a rally would be held in Maaycha on Sunday in support of the candidate, Satveer Gujjar of the BSP.

However, at least one of the senior SP functionaries TOI spoke to on Saturday said he would not be campaigning for anyone on the ground.

“I’ll not go anywhere and will remain at home. There were many good candidates who could have been given a ticket but were not. There were Vedram Bhati, Gajraj Nagar with the BSP while SP had Surendra Nagar and myself. I’m not campaigning for anyone,” said Narendra Bhati.

However, SP’s Rajya Sabha MP Surendra Nagar who defeated the BJP in the last Lok Sabha election denied any such rumours. “I was the only leader to have defeated the BJP in their stronghold. I am holding the post of national general secretary. I was always with the party during Gujjar’s nomination and candidature. Nothing of this is true. I am spending the next three days only in Gautam Budh Nagar,” said Nagar, who is set to address a public rally in Maaycha village on Sunday.

SP district president Bir Singh Yadav also told mediapersons that they will defeat the BJP with lakhs of votes.

Meanwhile, the alliance functionaries joined stage, with the local AAP unit formally announcing their support to the SP-BSP candidate on Saturday. As AAP said that they will take to streets and visit sectors to campaign for Satveer, BJP’s Kisan Morcha district president Abhishek Tyagi joined the SP.