Mayawati’s 52nd birthday celebrations might take on an ominous meaning for the Congress as the BSP’s Behnji prepares to use the occasion for a of Congress-bashing.
LUCKNOW: Mayawati’s 52nd birthday celebrations on Tuesday might take on an ominous meaning for the Congress as the BSP’s Behnji beyond compare prepares to use the occasion for a bitter round of Congress-bashing.
Informed BSP sources say Mayawati would use the opportunity for some tough political posturing and to make the BSP’s role in national politics – vis-à-vis the next Lok Sabha election – known to all political friends and foes. “We have a feeling tomorrow could be a defining day for the BSP’s politics,” a senior party leader told DNA.
While the BSP chief is keeping everyone guessing whether she would announce the withdrawal of support to the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre, the big question is whether Congress president Sonia Gandhi would call on Behnji with “many-happy-returns-of-the-day” wishes. Gandhi had gone to Mayawati’s residence in Delhi, bouquet in hand, to greet her on her birthday in 2004.
But those were different times, points out a keen political observer, as BSP had then just parted ways with the BJP. Things are different now.
Mayawati’s agenda is clear. She has a whole list of grievances ready against the UPA government. First, there is the Rs80,000-crore special economic package she had demanded for the state’s development. The Prime Minister’s Office has not even given it a second look.
Then there are the demands for a Special Protection Group cover for herself, and a Bharat Ratna to BSP founder Kanshi Ram, on which she would never compromise.
“Mayawati is acting like a spoilt child, making impossible demands she herself knows can’t be fulfilled,” says UP Congress spokesman Akhilesh Pratap Singh. “She is trying to rake up issues when there aren’t any,” he quips.
But the party’s excitement is brimming over. BSP men would be cutting cakes in all the 403 Assembly constituencies of UP. What they will not tell you is that Behnji has ordered a collection of Rs3 lakh from each of these constituencies. Besides, the bhai-chara (brotherhood) samitis formed to bring different castes together have been told to collect funds for the party.
After all, Mayawati has asked BSP cadres to celebrate her birthday as aarthik sahyog divas (financial support day).
g_deepak@dnaindia.net
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