Two BSP MLAs rebel against Mayawati

Two MLAs of the Bahujan Samaj Party rebelled against party chief Mayawati on Wednesday, accusing her of selling the ticket. Harbinder Sahani alias Romi, an MLA from Palia in Lakhimpur Kheri, and Brijesh Verma, from Bilgram-Mallava in Hardoi, announced their decision to quit the party at a press conference here. They also came out in support of the expelled BJP leader Dayashankar Singh’s wife Swati, who was the target of jibes by BSP workers at a recent protest in Lucknow.

BSP Uttar Pradesh president Ram Achal Rajbhar suspended the MLAs from the party on disciplinary grounds. “The allegations made by them are wrong and baseless, total lies,” he said.

The MLAs said the party had cancelled their nomination for the 2017 Assembly elections and given it the highest bidders. But the BSP said they were not active in campaigning. If Mr. Sahani was spending too much time in Lucknow, investing in his business, and not touring his constituency for the local unit elections, Mr. Verma gave primacy to his family members at the cost of party workers, Mr. Rajbhar said.

Ms. Mayawati’s campaign for return to power has been marred by squabbles in, and the exit of senior leaders from, the BSP.