Talk of tie-up with Cong mere speculation, won’t ally without respectable deal: Mayawati

Sonia Gandhi and Mayawati during the swearing-in ceremony of JD(S)-Congress coalition government in Bengaluru | PTI Photo/Shailendra Bhojak

BSP chief says her party is preparing to go it alone in MP, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. Congress leaders say it’s pressure tactics.

New Delhi: Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati Tuesday categorically stated that all the rumours of an alliance with the Congress are mere speculation — that at present, her party is planning to contest the assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh on its own.

“Congress leaders are giving statements that an alliance has been sealed,” she said. “But currently, we are preparing to contest on all seats in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. We will not be in an alliance if we are not offered a respectable number of seats.”

The statement comes two days after the Congress Working Committee decided to forge tactical alliances in states where it is weak.

The CWC authorised Congress president Rahul Gandhi to decide on alliance with regional parties in different states. In the past three assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, the BSP has damaged Congress prospects on 20 to 30 seats.

In Chhattisgarh too, the BSP impacts 10-odd seats. So, an alliance with the BSP is important for the Congress. Mayawati’s strong words, however, make it clear that the road to construct opposition unity will be anything but smooth.

Congress leaders have consistently stated that they will ally with all like-minded parties. In fact, earlier this month, Madhya Pradesh Congress president Kamal Nath had met Mayawati at her residence in Delhi to discuss the alliance and a seat-sharing arrangement.

However, the Rajasthan Congress is unwilling to forge an alliance. Last week, state leaders met party chief Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi and made it very clear that the party will get Dalit votes even without aligning with the BSP in the state.

Putting pressure for more seats?

Congress leaders are hopeful that the alliance will eventually go through in MP and Chhattisgarh, and feel that Tuesday’s statement is a pressure tactic from Mayawati to increase the BSP’s number of seats.

At present, sources say, the Congress is ready to offer around 20-30 seats to the BSP in Madhya Pradesh, and around 12-15 seats in Chhattisgarh.

“Our leaders are in touch with Mayawatiji and talks are happening. But to make such statement at this point of time appears to be an attempt to grab attention and importance,” said a senior Madhya Pradesh Congress leader. “Please remember that we are the leading party in these states and there is only a question of accommodating BSP and others.”

However, Mayawati also warned the Congress that in a state like Uttar Pradesh, the BSP and the Samajwadi Party would pay the grand old party in the same coin. “I want to remind Congress leaders that the same condition to applies to them in other states,” she said.

Additionally, to put pressure on the Congress in Chhattisgarh, Mayawati had met former Congress leader Ajit Jogi on 5 July. Jogi’s Chhattisgarh Janata Congress could play spoiler for the Congress.

Silence is golden

One Congress source told ThePrint that Mayawati just doesn’t want several party leaders giving statements on the possible alliance. In her own party, she has instructed leaders not to talk about any alliance.

Ashok Siddharth, BSP Rajya Sabha MP, has been made the party’s Madhya Pradesh in-charge, and says: “We are working on all seats. Whether an alliance takes place or not is Mayawatiji’s call.”