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BSP will not join Grand Alliance in Bihar
Patna, Feb 25 (IANS) The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) is likely to contest alone in Bihar for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, as party leaders hinted it will not be a part of the opposition’s Grand Alliance.
BSP’s Bihar in-charge Lalji Medhkar said the BSP would contest all 40 Lok Sabha seats in the state. “BSP chief Mayawati has instructed us to prepare to contest from all seats in Bihar,” he added.
He also said the party would not join hands with the Grand Alliance. “BSP will contest the polls on its own,” he said.
According to him, Mayawati has invited BSP leaders of Bihar to Delhi for a meeting ahead of the polls. She will finalise the party’s strategy with them and then announce its candidates.
The move is a political setback for the Grand Alliance in Bihar, which was waiting for the BSP to join, in hope of putting up an united opposition against the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav had even met Mayawati in Luckhnow in January, when it was being speculated that the BSP will be a part of the Grand Alliance.
The BSP has some strong pockets in Bihar, particularly in Gopalganj, Kaimur and Rohtas which are near the Uttar Pradesh border.
Ironically, however, Tejashwi Yadav planned to give the BSP just one or two seats.
Medhkar said political scenarios are very different in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
An RJD leader admitted that the BSP’s social support base was well known with a particular Dalit caste. It also enjoys support in over half-a-dozen Lok Sabha seats.
The development comes amid reports of another Grand Alliance component, Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) president Jitan Ram Manjhi being unhappy over the seats offered to his party.
“My party should get respectable number of seats. We have a large vote bank,” Manjhi, another Dalit leader, has been repeatedly saying.
And after Manjhi’s seat-sharing talks with RJD chief Lalu Prasad in Ranchi failed, there are growing rumours that he may join the NDA as the BJP has offered him full respect and honour.
The ‘Mahagathbandhan’ in Bihar comprises the Congress, the RJD, the Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP) led by former Union Minister Upendra Kushwaha, the HAM led by Manjhi and the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) led by Mukesh Sahni.
The Left parties, including CPI, CPI-M and CPI-ML, too are likely to contest polls together as part of the Grand Alliance.
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.