The Samajwadi Party on Sunday asked the Election Commission to derecognise the BSP as a national party for allegedly using party chief Mayawati’s birthday to launder money.

Citing a ‘sting operation’ containing audio recordings of some BSP workers, SP general secretary Amar Singh accused BSP’s national office of converting funds generated through “forced collections” from government officials and the public into “donations” in Mayawati’s name.

Along with the EC, Singh said he has also written to the Prime Minister and President.

“All BSP legislators, MPs and party functionaries are ordered to collect funds from government officials as well as the public on the occasion of Mayawati’s birthday on January 15. This cash is then sent to the BSP national office where top officer-bearers distribute it among top party workers in other states. The amount of money given to them varies from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 1 crore depending on their position in the party,” Amar Singh alleged in his written complaint.

“These office-bearers then instruct various party workers to take the cash to banks and get drafts prepared in the name of Mayawati. It is to be noted that all drafts are generally prepared in small denominations so that they go unnoticed.”

In his complaint, Singh has alleged that senior BSP leaders Tilak Chand Ahirwal and C P Singh gave Rs 20 lakh to Delhi BSP leader Suresh Chand to “convert this black money into white by hiring many people (BSP workers)” and getting DDs of small denominations made in Mayawati’s name. In fact, Singh also released a list of 39 “BSP workers” who had got DDs made for the above Rs 20 lakh.

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