Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh BSP President Swami Prasad Maurya wason Saturday elected leader of the party`s legislature group. A meeting of BSP legislators, MPs ,leaders and office bearers convened here by party president Mayawati also decided that senior leader Naseemuddin Siddiqui would be the new leader of the party in the legislative council. Maurya, elected from Padrauna seat in Kushinagar district, would also be the Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly as BSP has emerged as the second largest party winning 80 MLAs in the new assembly.
The names of the new leaders in both the Houses were announced in the meeting chaired by Mayawati.
Though it was clear that Swami would be made the leader of BSP in the assembly, there were doubts that Naseemuddin Siddiqui would be given the responsibility in the upper house following ongoing Lokayukt inquiry against him.
Siddiqui`s appointment as the leader of the party in the Council of which the outgoing chief minister is also a member, has also set in motion speculation that after the defeat of her party in the state she could be headed to Rajya Sabha.
With its strength, BSP looks certain to send two members to the Rajya Sabha in the elections slated for month-end.
Mayawati would also be meeting party MLAs, MPs, other leaders besides other office bearers and zonal coordinators tomorrow apparently to discuss reasons of BSP`s poll debacle.
Mayawati is expected to make some changes in the organisation following the debacle.
PTI