“The party, for the welfare of Bahujan Samaj, may have to initiate an understanding with other outfits in the upcoming elections,” Mayawati was quoted to have said, while addressing a meeting of BSP coordinators and state office bearers. The meeting was called to

finalise the preparations for the party convention slated for August 9.

Rescheduling the August 9 rally to a party workers’ convention, Mayawati asked her party coordinators to bring three members from each booth and to bring not more than 15 buses of workers from each constituency.

According to party sources, Mayawati termed the present political situation as “a testing time for the BSP”. Admitting that for the first time BSP has registered its presence on the national scene, Mayawati told partymen that rest of the parties were closely watching each move made by the BSP.

She also directed state coordinators, office bearers and divisional coordinators to focus on Assembly

elections in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. The chief minister said that good performance in these Assembly elections will guarantee success in the Lok Sabha polls.