BSP Chief Mayawati
By Our Special Correspondent
New Delhi, January 15: The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati has announced that her party will contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections without any pre-poll alliance. Speaking to her supporters, Mayawati said that the experience of the BSP has not been good in forming alliances.
The BSP supremo said that the party would take a decision on an alliance or extending support after the Lok Sabha elections. Mayawati thus has closed scopes for any further speculation on the seat adjustment talks with the Opposition alliance, the Indian National Developmental and Inclusive Alliance.
Arguing that the BSP had come to power in Uttar Pradesh in 2007 with the support of all sections of the society, Mayawati exuded confidence that her party would come out stronger after the Lok Sabha elections. Her criticism of the pre-poll alliance is being seen as her unhappiness with the Samajwadi Party (SP).
The BSP supremo had earlier came down heavily on the SP, recalling the incident of 1996 when she was allegedly attacked in her party office. At the same time, Mayawati has also come down heavily on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. She has asserted that 80 crore people being provided with free ration is evidence enough that the economic conditions in the country are not good.
The BSP ruling out an alliance with the Opposition parties is being seen in the political circle as a setback particularly for the Congress. While the Congress was keen for an alliance with the BSP, the SP was positioning against the Mayawati-led outfit, fearing that the Akhilesh Yadav led outfit may have to cede space in Uttar Pradesh.
By keeping options open for a post-poll alliance, Mayawati has set her eyes on possibilities emerging out after the election. She has also said that the BSP may decide to extend outside support in situations emerging after the Lok Sabha elections.
However, Mayawati’s decision is being seen in the BJP with relief. The BJP was apprehending that the direct contest in Uttar Pradesh could have been challenging for the party. The BJP incidentally prefers a triangular contest in UP. In 2014, the BJP had won 71 of the total 80 Lok Sabha seats in a triangular contest. However, the BJP could win only 62 Lok Sabha seats in the 2019 elections when the BSP was part of the grand Opposition alliance.
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