Sunday, October 30 2005 16:40 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Lucknow: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) National President Mayawati today (Oct 30, 2005) said results of the recent District Panchayat elections in Uttar Pradesh were a mandate against the 'misrule' of the ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) in the state.

"The people of the state have rejected the SP candidates and the party awaits a similar fate in the next assembly elections," she told newsmen here.

Claiming that a large number of BSP-supported candidates had emerged victorious in the polls, Mayawati alleged that the SP had resorted to largescale rigging in the polls and misused official machinery besides roping in the services of mafia elements.

"But still it could not ensure victory of its candidates," the BSP supremo said. "Had the elections been free and fair the SP would not have been able to open its account in the poll," he added.

She raised apprehensions on the fair conduct of elections for president of district panchayats alleging that the ruling party could use 'money and muscle power' to ensure that its supporters were elected.

The BSP supremo refused to be drawn into the controversy regarding state Governor T V Rajeswar's recent visit to Mau in the wake of communal clashes there.

She sharply condemned yesterday's (Oct 29, 2005) serial blasts in New Delhi and said parties should rise above petty politics to ensure communal harmony and peace in the country.