Our Correspondent
Phagwara, May 21

Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Kanshi Ram today ruled out any poll pact with SAD. We are determined to show the doors to this corrupt government and will not have any electoral truck with SAD at any cost, asserted Mr Kanshi Ram, before addressing a party rally here to commemorate the 110th birth anniversary of Dr Ambedkar.

The BSP chief’s statement assumes significance as the Punjab Chief Minister had said two days ago at Jalandhar that SAD was willing to forge an alliance with the BSP to defeat the Congress in the coming poll. Even the Punjab BJP chief Prof Brij Lal Rinwa had said yesterday at Fazilka that his party had no objection in case its partner, wanted to have an alliance with the BSP too, it may be recalled.

Mr Kanshi Ram has projected Mr Ravi Inder Singh, former Speaker, Punjab Vidhan Sabha, as the next Chief Minister. When asked whether there was no Dalit leader for the coveted post since he was repeatedly preferring a Jat for the post, Mr Kanshi Ram shot back that if there had been one he would have made him the Chief Minister. When further asked as to whether this would not create heartburning or dissension among Dalits, he replied in the negative, asserting that his partymen would go by his word and follow whatever he said.

Continuing his broadside against Mr Badal, Mr Kanshi Ram branded the sangat darshan programme a political stunt with an eye on the coming poll. Public funds were being misused and “bribe” was being given by distributing grants, he alleged. He declared that the BSP would contest all 117 seats on its own and win 60 seats, including 25 from Doaba.

I would continue to camp in Punjab for the formation of our own government since I had come determined from Delhi for the task, he added.