Lucknow: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in Uttar Pradesh split with 37 MLAs forming a new outfit, Loktantrik BSP, and urging Assembly Speaker Kesri Nath Tripathi to recognise the breakaway group besides pledging support to Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, who is seeking a trust-vote on September 8.

All the 37 MLAs, led by Rajendra Singh Rana, who was chosen the leader, met Tripathi and submitted a letter asking him to accord them recognition.

They did not invite disqualification under the anti-defection law as the group constitutes one-third of the 111-member BSP legislature party.

PTI