Sources deny seat sharing arrangement between BSP, SP & RLD for 2019 polls

BSP and SP had bought helped the Congress to scratch past the finish line in Madhya Pradesh last week and the Congress is banking on an electoral understanding with the two parties for the crucial 2019 polls.

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Mayawati. FILE PIC/AFP.

Lucknow:  Reports of seat sharing arrangement between BSP, SP and RLD for 2019 polls excluding the Congress party have been dismissed by the BSP, Sources within Mayawati's party said on Wednesday.  Morning reports suggested that the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party have agreed to give four to five seats to Ajit Singh's Rashrtiya Lok Dal in the 'Gathbandhan' in Uttar Pradesh while dividing rest 75 of the 80 seats equally among the two. The unconfirmed reports of the SP-BSP-RLD alliance came as a rude shock for the Congress which has been eagerly waiting to stitch an alliance with Mayawati and Akhilesh. As the news of Congress being sidelined from the alliance kicked into full gear, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also commented on the development saying the Bulandshahr violence, was a "political conspiracy" hatched by those who have lost political ground. BSP and SP had bought helped the Congress to scratch past the finish line in Madhya Pradesh last week and the Congress is banking on an electoral understanding with the two parties for the crucial 2019 polls.  Experts say there are many imponderables between the situation now and the general election and a lot will depend on the bargaining skills of a seasoned politician like Mayawati and her ability to handle the onslaught from the BJP in the coming weeks prior to elections.