Mayawati hits back at Maurya, accuses him of indulging in nepotism

Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh): Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati on Wednesday fired back on Swami Prasad Maurya saying he was indulged in nepotism and wanted tickets for his children and upon refusal from her he left the party. "Had he not left BSP for himself, he soon would have been expelled from it," Mayawati said. Earlier today, Swami Prasad Maurya, who is also leader of opposition in Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Sabha, left the BSP alleging corruption charges against Mayawati saying she sells the tickets of Vidhan Sabha, Loksabha and other positions to the highest bidder. Addressing a press conference in Lucknow today, Mayawati said that Maurya once again had demanded tickets for his son and daughter for 2017 Vidhan Sabha elections. "Since it is not the culture of BSP to promote nepotism, the tickets were firmly denied by me," she said. She asked Maurya to tell that how much money he himself paid for his ticket from Kushinagar and the ticket given to his son from Unchahaar in 2012 and to her daughter in 2014 Lok Sabha elections from Mainpuri. She said that it was her mistake to allow tickets to Maurya's family in 2012 and 2014 which she never wanted to repeat. Mayawati said that nobody is with Maurya except few party MLAs who earlier have already been expelled by her on the charges of cross voting in recent Vidhan Parishad and Rajya Sabha elections. Reacting on the speculation of Swami Prasad Maurya joining Samajwadi Party, she said that it will be the fittest place for Maurya like people as it is Samajwadi Party which fully endorses the theme of nepotism as all the family persons of Mulayam Singh Yadav are either MP or MLA or holding any post of profit. Maurya earlier today left the party and accused Mayawati of auctioning tickets. "Instead of selecting good candidates, who are loyal to the policies of the party, Mayawati is auctioning tickets to the highest bidder," he said.