Bhopal, Oct 30: The Bahujan Samaj Party in Madhya Pradesh today split with its expelled former state unit president, Phool Singh Baraiyya, floating a new party "Samta Samaj Party" that will take on both the Congress and BJP.
He accused the BSP of joining hands with the Congress and he and his supporters were expelled because they were seen as an "obstacle".
The formation of the new party was announced here today at a press conference by Baraiyaa who was expelled from the BSP only yesterday.
He said he would be the national president of the new party whose vice-president would be his trusted lieutenant, Sant Singh.
The Bahujan Samaj Party had split in Madhya Pradesh after the November 1998 elections when five of its 11 MLAs had floated a new party that later merged with the Congress.
Baraiyya charged the BSP leadership with joining hands with the congress and also refuted the allegation that he was sold out to the BJP.
The latest split in the BSP has come less than five weeks before the crucial December one assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh.
Bureau Report