SP, BSP set eyes on J&K

The Bahujan Samaj Party and the Samajwadi Party — the two dominant parties of Uttar Pradesh — are all set to test the waters in Jammu & Kashmir, which is expected to go to polls early next year. While BSP chief Mayawati will be visiting Jammu on November 18 to address a workers rally at the Parade Grounds, the Samajwadi Party will organise a day-long convention in Srinagar on the next day. According to SP state president Sheikh Abdul Rehman, besides Mulayam Singh Yadav, other leaders like Amar Singh, Jaya Bachchan, Maulana Asim Azmi and Shahid Sidiqui will be addressing the convention on November 19 at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Conference Centre.

Rehman said the convention would discuss the broad political scenario, besides the role of his party in state politics. The SP will field candidates in 51 seats, including 30 in Kashmir, 20 in Jammu and one in Ladakh in the assembly elections, he said.