The BSP on Wednesday decided to contest the upcoming urban body elections on the party symbol after a gap of more than two decades and stressed on dealing with fresh challenges through a new strategy.

At a meeting of party leaders of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand convened by party chief Mayawati, detailed discussions were held on the issue of upcoming urban body elections in the state, and it was decided that they will be contested on the party symbol, said a statement issued here.

Though the BSP's base is not as strong in urban areas (as in rural areas), the decision has been taken in view of the growth in people's support in urban areas as well, the release said.

"The party will try to give good results with the help of sarv samaj (entire society)," it said quoting the party chief.

The BSP has not fought the urban body polls on party ticket after 1995 but today's decision was taken following a demand to this effect from its leaders who felt it was time to make the party's presence felt in the state, especially after the debacle in the recent assembly polls, party insiders said.

Reviewing the present political situation, Mayawati directed the leaders to increase the BSP's support base among the sarv samaj while facing new challenges, the release said.

"There is a need to work with renewed vigour and missionary zeal through a new strategy to deal with new challenges before the BSP movement," she said.

"Although the BSP movement is on a solid footing in the state but ever since the Assembly poll results which have not been in keeping with our hopes and preparations, casteist and communal forces are upbeat and are spreading rumours to demoralise our party workers," the BSP chief said.

"To divert attention from EVM tampering, they are trying to mislead the people through false propaganda," she said, adding the manner in which the BJP is working with the support of the RSS poses a risk to democracy.

"If the Constitution and democracy are not kept alive in true spirit, the doors to power will be closed for Dalits and backwards, and they will remain deprived forever," she said.