RK Chaudhary accused BSP chief Mayawati of "auctioning" tickets to contest Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh. (PTI photo)
BSP today downplayed the resignation of Mayawati's once-trusted lieutenant RK Chaudhary saying his quitting will have no impact on the party and described him as a "selfish" leader.
"There is no place for selfish people in BSP...Chaudhary was expelled from the party in 2001...His departure had no effect earlier and will not have any impact this time too," state BSP chief Ram Achal Rajbhar said.
"Chaudhary had returned to the party after apologising for his mistakes and was also fielded in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls from Mohanlalganj," Mr Rajbhar said, adding that "in view of the favourable conditions for the party in the upcoming 2017 Assembly polls, he was demanding ticket which was denied".
"Chaudhary was promised that he will be given Lok Sabha ticket...Ever since the denial of ticket, he had not shown much interest in party working," Mr Rajbhar said.
His comments came hours after Mr Chaudhary quit the party accusing Ms Mayawati of "auctioning" tickets to contest Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh.
"At election time, tickets are allotted to the person who pays the highest amount," he said, announcing his resignation from the party at a press conference in Lucknow.
Mr Rajbhar said "all selfish leaders were quitting the party before elections, levelling baseless allegations against Mayawati which is condemnable".
Daring Mr Chaudhary to disclose the amount he had paid for the Lok Sabha ticket, Mr Rajbhar said his quitting will prove "beneficial" for BSP.
Mr Rajbhar also apologised to the party president for requesting her to take Mr Chaudhary back in the party fold in the past.
Senior BSP leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council Naseemudin Siddiqui said that till the time Mr Chaudhary was in BSP, the party could not form majority government.
"Now the party will form majority government in the state," he said, announcing candidature of Ramnath Tripathi as BSP candidate for Shahabad Assembly seat.
He said, "In the past too, BSP came to power only after Chaudhary was expelled from BSP."