If Congress joins Mayawati's grand alliance, PM Modi will be in history books: Mani Shankar Aiyar

Delighted over Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati's proposal for a "mahagathbandhan" (grand alliance) of anti-BJP parties for 2019 general elections, the Congress on Sunday said that the grand old party would also join in the race to oust the saffron party from national politics.

"I am delighted that in her own accord Mayawati has agreed to join this alliance. I think even without the Congress it is already strong enough to take on the BJP. But if the Congress comes into it and I hope it will, then there is no hope for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, except to see him consigned to the books of history," Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar said.

Addressing her party members on the 126th birth anniversary of BR Ambedkar, BSP chief Mayawati said that she was open to enter into alliance with any political party to defeat the BJP. "The BSP now has no reservations in taking the help of anti-BJP parties in its fight against EVM tampering and the BJP as it is the democracy which comes first...we have to keep democracy alive," she said.