Big jolt for opposition as Mayawati denies any rally with Lalu

Lucknow: In a major jolt to the opposition, Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati on Monday denied reports that she is batting for opposition unity and cleared that she is not attending any Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Lalu Prasad Yadav's rally on August 27.

"Media reports based on the poster for the proposed opposition rally of Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Lalu Prasad on August 27 are false," said Mayawati in a statement.

Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister said that BSP does not have any Twitter account and party issues press notes from time to time to express views in detail on various issues.

"The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) does not have any Twitter account and thus the posters circulated through the same are totally wrong. The BSP denies the same," the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister said.

Mayawati's remarks came soon after a poster surfaced featuring her, former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, Congress President Sonia Gandhi, West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress Chief Mamata Banerjee, RJD leader Lalu Prasad and his son Tejashwi Pratap, and Janata Dal-United leader Sharad Yadav.

The posters circulated on social media carried pictures of Dalit icons and the BSP logo.

Samajawadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav is, however, set to attend the rally.

"Party president Akhilesh will be visting Patna on August 27 and attend the rally organised by Lalu Prasad," SP spokesman Rajendra Chowdhury said.

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