Lucknow: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati has suffered a major setback ahead of next year's assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, nearly 8 months later. It is reported that nine BSP rebels MLA will meet Samajwadi Party (SP) national president and former UP CM Akhilesh Yadav in Lucknow a short while ago. In Uttar Pradesh, bsp has 18 MLA in the Assembly, out of which 9 rebels had rebelled before the Rajya Sabha elections last year. He did not leave the party to evade the defection law, but now he has made his tough stand clear by meeting Akhilesh Yadav. The development is said to have a major impact on the state of Uttar Pradesh. Akhilesh Yadav wants to send a message that only the SP can take on the BJP in the state. It will be difficult for the BSP to strengthen itself. In Uttar Pradesh, assembly elections are scheduled to be held after 8 months. The Congress has already sent Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to the fray. There may be a multifaceted contest this time. On the one hand, there are the BJP and its allies, on the other hand, there are congress, SP and BSP. Iranian Health Minister announces emergency use of a domestic vaccine for Covid-19. Shipwreck Yemen: Bodies of 25 migrants recovered off Yemen’s coast Owaisi attack Modi govt over releasing false figures of death toll from coronavirus