BSP backs Droupadi Murmu, Hemant Soren undecided

New Delhi, June 25

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) on Saturday declared support for Droupadi Murmu, the NDA presidential candidate, with party chief Mayawati saying the decision was rooted not in politics, but in the party’s commitment to the advancement of the marginalised. A meeting of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, ally of the Congress in the Jharkhand government, on backing Murmu, meanwhile, remained inconclusive on Saturday, with JMM chief Hemant Soren to soon meet Home Minister Amit Shah “for the resolution of some issues concerning the state”.

Focus on empowerment

The decision stems from the party’s urge to empower the vulnerable sections. BSP

Murmu today called Soren to seek support. The BSP in a statement today said the decision to support Murmu was “neither against the UPA or the Congress nor in favour of the NDA or the BJP”.

“The BSP has decided to support Murmu in the coming presidential elections in line with its commitment to adivasi samaj, a critical part of the BSP’s struggle to carve its own path out of adversity,” said the BSP statement tweeted by Mayawati.

The BSP chief said the decision stemmed from the party’s urge to empower the vulnerable sections.

The BSP president, while criticising the opposition parties for keeping her out of consultation while deciding on the presidential candidate, stressed that her party was free to decide on the presidential election.

Mayawati also slammed TMC chief and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee for “unilaterally and arbitrarily inviting only selected parties to the meeting of the Opposition on June 15”. The BSP chief said NCP’s Sharad Pawar did not call the BSP for the June 21 meeting. “This mirrors their casteist biases,” Mayawati said. Meanwhile, Opposition candidate Yashwant Sinha is yet to begin his campaign and is waiting for the JMM and JDS to clarify their positions. The JMM has appeared to veer towards Murmu and JDS chief HD Deve Gowda has termed Murmu “suitable”.