On Sunday, March 17th,&nbsp;Jana Sena Party (JSP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) had announced seat sharing <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/lok-sabha-polls-2019-kcrs-daughter-faces-farmers-ire-as-nizamabad-votes-in-first-phase-209466">alliance in Andhra Pradesh</a> according to which Mayawati's party decided to contest in three reserved SC Lok Sabha - Chittoor, Tirupati and Bapatla. It's&nbsp;BSP&nbsp;chief Mayawati's latest gambit to ally with local parties in order to increase her political equity in across the country.

Live Lok Sabha polls 2019: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/live-lok-sabha-polls-2019-voting-underway-in-91-seats-in-first-phase-209404">TDP leader killed in election-related clashes</a>

Actor-turned-politician <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/lok-sabha-polls-2019-tdp-worker-killed-as-clashes-mark-polling-in-andhra-pradesh-209528">Pawan Kalyan who formed the Jana Sena</a> in 2014 has been a flagrant supporter of Mayawati. Kalyan earlier campaigned for the TDP-BJP combine during the 2014 general elections.

The Jana Sena chief has also roped in CPI&nbsp;and CPM to fight the polls along with the BSP with the state going to the polls in both Assembly and Lok Sabha elections simultaneously.

JSP hopes of mounting a challenge to the two big state parties - chief minister Chandrababu Naidu's Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and&nbsp;Jagan Mohan Reddy's YSRCP.

Mayawati gambit to play the Dalit card in the state in order to bolster BSP credentials in the state and also attempt an all-India profile for the party which is best known for being an UP outfit.

BSP will also be fighting in 21 Assembly seats in a seat-sharing agreement with JSP ensuring a "Mahagathbandhan" style appeal in the state. Kalyan had in fact even pitched Mayawati as the next prime minister asserting that the country needed her services while praising her administrative skills.

The former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh went a step further and promised Special Category Status to Andhra Pradesh, an issue which has become a bone of contention between Andhra and the Modi government. Mayawati during a joint press conference with JSP chief also said Congress had made a mistake by bifurcating Andhra Pradesh.

Mayawati has used the same pitch to further her cause in the home state - Uttar Pradesh - where she has aligned with enemy-turned-friend Akhilesh Yadav's Samajwadi Party. The BSP-SP combine hopes to dislodge the NaMo army during the Lok Sabha polls, even a dent in the BJP vote bank will mean a victory for Mayawati who has felt sandwiched between a marauding BJP and a resurgent SP under Akhilesh Yadav.

On Sunday, March 17th, Jana Sena Party (JSP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) had announced seat sharing alliance in Andhra Pradesh according to which Mayawati's party decided to contest in three reserved SC Lok Sabha - Chittoor, Tirupati and Bapatla.

On Sunday, March 17th, Jana Sena Party (JSP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) had announced seat sharing alliance in Andhra Pradesh according to which Mayawati's party decided to contest in three reserved SC Lok Sabha - Chittoor, Tirupati and Bapatla. It's BSP chief Mayawati's latest gambit to ally with local parties in order to increase her political equity in across the country. Live Lok Sabha polls 2019: TDP leader killed in election-related clashes Actor-turned-politician Pawan Kalyan who formed the Jana Sena in 2014 has been a flagrant supporter of Mayawati. Kalyan earlier campaigned for the TDP-BJP combine during the 2014 general elections. The Jana Sena chief has also roped in CPI and CPM to fight the polls along with the BSP with the state going to the polls in both Assembly and Lok Sabha elections simultaneously. JSP hopes of mounting a challenge to the two big state parties - chief minister Chandrababu Naidu's Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Jagan Mohan Reddy's YSRCP. Mayawati gambit to play the Dalit card in the state in order to bolster BSP credentials in the state and also attempt an all-India profile for the party which is best known for being an UP outfit. BSP will also be fighting in 21 Assembly seats in a seat-sharing agreement with JSP ensuring a "Mahagathbandhan" style appeal in the state. Kalyan had in fact even pitched Mayawati as the next prime minister asserting that the country needed her services while praising her administrative skills. The former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh went a step further and promised Special Category Status to Andhra Pradesh, an issue which has become a bone of contention between Andhra and the Modi government. Mayawati during a joint press conference with JSP chief also said Congress had made a mistake by bifurcating Andhra Pradesh. Mayawati has used the same pitch to further her cause in the home state - Uttar Pradesh - where she has aligned with enemy-turned-friend Akhilesh Yadav's Samajwadi Party. The BSP-SP combine hopes to dislodge the NaMo army during the Lok Sabha polls, even a dent in the BJP vote bank will mean a victory for Mayawati who has felt sandwiched between a marauding BJP and a resurgent SP under Akhilesh Yadav.

Mayawati's Andhra gambit: Align with local party JSP to boost BSP's equity

Lok Sabha candidate of Jana Sena Party (JSP), Madhusudan Gupta, on Wednesday broke an Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) at a polling booth in Gooty town in Andhra Pradesh alleging that the names of Assembly and Lok Sabha seats had not been properly displayed in the voting chamber.

Gupta reached the polling station at Girls'&nbsp;Higher School in Gooty which falls under Guntakal Assembly constituency, this morning.

Live Lok Sabha polls 2019: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/live-lok-sabha-polls-2019-voting-underway-in-91-seats-in-first-phase-209404">Naxals trigger IED blast at polling booth in Maharashtra; no injuries reported</a>

He alleged that the names of Assembly and Lok Sabha seats had not been properly displayed in the polling chamber.

Election officials tried to pacify him but an angry Gupta threw an EVM on the floor and broke it.

He was later taken into police custody.

Polling is underway for 25 Lok Sabha and 175 Assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh. The state&nbsp;recorded 18 per cent polling till 11 am.

Telangana recorded 22.84 per cent polling.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/indias-general-election-begins-with-voting-in-first-of-seven-phases-209447">India's general election begins with voting in first of seven phases</a>

Meanwhile, TDP MP Kanakamedala Ravindra Kumar met the Election Commission (EC) in Delhi and complained about EVM malfunctioning in the state.&nbsp;

TDP's N Chandrababu Naidu in a letter to Chief Election Commissioner demanded repoll&nbsp;in booths where polling did not commence till 9:30 am due to EVM snag.

Other states going to polls include - Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, J&amp;K, Maharashtra, Nagaland, Odisha, Sikkim, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Telangana, Uttarakhand, West Bengal. Voters in Manipur, Andaman and Lakshadweep will also be exercising their franchise.

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

Lok Sabha candidate of Jana Sena Party (JSP), Madhusudan Gupta, on Wednesday broke an Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) at a polling booth in Gooty town in Andhra Pradesh alleging that the names of Assembly and Lok Sabha seats had not been properly displayed in the voting chamber.

Lok Sabha candidate of Jana Sena Party (JSP), Madhusudan Gupta, on Wednesday broke an Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) at a polling booth in Gooty town in Andhra Pradesh alleging that the names of Assembly and Lok Sabha seats had not been properly displayed in the voting chamber. Gupta reached the polling station at Girls' Higher School in Gooty which falls under Guntakal Assembly constituency, this morning. Live Lok Sabha polls 2019: Naxals trigger IED blast at polling booth in Maharashtra; no injuries reported He alleged that the names of Assembly and Lok Sabha seats had not been properly displayed in the polling chamber. Election officials tried to pacify him but an angry Gupta threw an EVM on the floor and broke it. He was later taken into police custody. Polling is underway for 25 Lok Sabha and 175 Assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh. The state recorded 18 per cent polling till 11 am. Telangana recorded 22.84 per cent polling. Also read: India's general election begins with voting in first of seven phases Meanwhile, TDP MP Kanakamedala Ravindra Kumar met the Election Commission (EC) in Delhi and complained about EVM malfunctioning in the state. TDP's N Chandrababu Naidu in a letter to Chief Election Commissioner demanded repoll in booths where polling did not commence till 9:30 am due to EVM snag. Other states going to polls include - Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, J&K, Maharashtra, Nagaland, Odisha, Sikkim, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Telangana, Uttarakhand, West Bengal. Voters in Manipur, Andaman and Lakshadweep will also be exercising their franchise. (With inputs from agencies)

Watch: Jan Sena candidate Madhusudan Gupta smashes EVM in polling booth in Andhra Pradesh

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Mayawati's Andhra gambit: Align with local party JSP to boost BSP's equity

Watch: Jan Sena candidate Madhusudan Gupta smashes EVM in polling booth in Andhra Pradesh