Mayawati blames Akhilesh Yadav for LS poll debacle, says SP chief 'didn't even call after loss'

Mayawati made her statement during the party’s national executive meeting on Sunday, where she also claimed that she had called Akhilesh Yadav on the counting day (May 23) but he did not answer her calls.

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) President Mayawati lashed out at the Samajwati Party (SP) and its president Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday over the party's rout in the Lok Sabha elections.

New Delhi: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) President Mayawati lashed out at the Samajwati Party (SP) and its president Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday over the party's rout in the Lok Sabha elections. According to party leaders, Mayawati blamed Akhilesh Yadav for the humiliating defeat of their alliance in Lok Sabha polls and said alliance with the Samajwadi Party was a 'big mistake'. Mayawati made her statement during the party’s national executive meeting on Sunday, where she also claimed that she had called Akhilesh Yadav on the counting day (May 23) but he did not answer her calls. She further said that Akhilesh Yadav called BSP leader Satish Chandra Misra after the party announced its decision to go solo in the assembly byelections but did not speak with her. While addressing the party workers and leaders, Mayawati was quoted as saying, "I contacted Akhilesh Yadav after the counting results but he did not speak with me. He should have told me where my party workers did not support him [Akhilesh Yadav]. Satish Chandra Misra had asked him to call me but he did not. I played my role as an elder and called him on the counting day. When we decided to break the alliance on June 3, Akhilesh called Satish Chandra Misra but did not speak with me." Mayawati also alleged that the Samajwadi Party workers and leaders betrayed her on a number of seats and worked to defeat BSP, instead. Watch | SP, BSP back to their age-old animosity? Meanwhile on Sunday, Mayawati appointed her brother Anand Kumar as the party's national vice president and her nephew Akash Anand as its national coordinator. She also appointed BSP leader Ramji Gautam as the party's national coordinator. The decision was taken at a meeting here which was attended by top functionaries of the party. Amroha MP Danish Ali has been made the leader of the party in Lok Sabha and its Nagina MP Girish Chandra has been appointed the chief whip, he said. Watch | Mayawati's nepotism: Appoints brother, nephew to top posts The elevation of Anand's son Akash is being seen a sign as his growing influence in the party affairs. The suave 24-year-old, who is now a regular in BSP's official engagements, was introduced to party leaders by Mayawati in 2017 when she told them that he had returned from London after doing his MBA and he would look after the party affairs. Uttar Pradesh will witness bypolls on 12 assembly seats and Mayawati's attempt is seen as an attempt to strengthen the organisation after its "unexpected" performance in Lok Sabha polls in which the party won 10 seats.