On Wednesday, the BSP supremo Mayawati gave a huge shock to the Congress party and its ambitions of an anti-BJP grand alliance. Mayawati made it very clear that her party would not ally with the Congress at any cost. She further added that there is no question of the BSP allying with the Congress led by Rahul Gandhi for the upcoming state assembly elections in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. BSP supremo also informed about her strategy. Mayawati said that in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh her party will either enter into an alliance with the regional parties or go solo, but we will not ally with the Congress.
Mayawati also raised questions over intentions of the INC to defeat the BJP. The BSP supremo said that the intention of the INC is not to defeat the BJP but to cause harm to friendly partners. She said the INC is trying to defeat its friendly partners instead of the BJP. She is right in her opinion about the INC. It has been seen that the INC has adopted the policy of use and throw as far as regional and its alliance partners are concerned. She not only declined any possibility of an alliance with the INC but she also made some harsh remarks about the INC and criticized the local leadership of the INC. She called the INC “arrogant” and said that whatever steps she is taking is because of the “stubborn attitude” of the grand old party.
Earlier, in September, the BSP declared to contest upcoming Chhattisgarh state assembly elections in coalition with Ajit Jogi’s Janata Congress Chhattisgarh (JCC-J).
For more details: Mayawati snubs Congress in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh.
It is said that there are no permanent friends and enemies in politics. Things change very quickly in politics. Just a few months ago, at Kumaraswamy’s swearing-in-ceremony, Mayawati and Sonia Gandhi gave a tight hug to each other; Mayawati also expelled a senior leader of the party who made remarks against the INC President Rahul Gandhi, and now she doesn’t want to associate herself with the INC.
Speaking on the development, union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said forging a coalition was not in Congress’ DNA and it only gives priority to the Gandhi family. He said, “With whom the Congress allies is entirely their business, but in light of concerns and pain of Mayawati, I can only say that coalition is not a part of the Congress DNA. They only give importance to the family.”
The BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav also took jibe at the prospect of proposed grand alliance against the BJP. He said, “Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) in ‘progress’. First AAP and now BSP calling the bluff. Mayawati says Congress, arrogant, a new revelation for her, and declares no alliance in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan too. Chhattisgarh already dumped.”
Mayawati’s statements and her decision to go solo is a severe blow to any hopes of anti-Modi or anti-BJP grand alliance. She has not only rejected the Congress party but also questioned its intentions and has dealt a credible blow to its legitimacy as the prospective leader of grand alliance, along with that she has also shattered any prospects for the grand alliance.
In the days to come, Akhilesh Yadav is also likely to give a huge shock to the Congress. He is already playing his cards too close to the chest. In his recent statement, he said “Congress should have a bigger heart”. Congress party seems to be in a downward spiral and is in desperate want of regional partners without which there is a real chance that it might not even reach its 2014 tally.