Solo Ambition

Ending all speculations, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati on January 15, her birthday, declared that her party will contest the Lok Sabha election alone, dashing the hopes of INDIA or the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance, especially the Congress, which was keen on her joining the Opposition alliance.

- Prashant Srivastava

So much so that the national party had even cancelled its January 12 meeting with the Samajwadi Party (SP) to discuss seat-sharing in Uttar Pradesh, as state Congress leaders were hoping for Mayawati to make an announcement in their favour on her 68th birthday.

But addressing the media in Lucknow, the former UP chief minister claimed the BSP’s experience with alliances has not been “beneficial”. “We suffer more losses,” she said. “Most of the parties want to ally with the BSP. But the BSP will fight the elections alone.” Citing the 2007 Vidhan Sabha election, when the BSP won 206 of the 403 assembly seats, Mayawati said it was the combined support of the Dalits, Muslims, tribals and other backward communities that had helped the party form a majority government. "We'll maintain a distance with those who are casteist and communal, and we'll not join any alliance," the BSP chief added, even as she kept options open for a post-poll alliance.