The once-cosy relations between the Congress and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in Uttar Pradesh (UP) have begun to sour.
NEW DELHI: The once-cosy relations between the Congress and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in Uttar Pradesh (UP) have begun to sour. The crossing over of Congress MLA Ajay Pratap Singh to the BSP is only the latest in a series skirmishes between the parties. A few days ago, the Mayawati government ordered Rajiv Gandhi Foundation to stop operating medical services in Sonia Gandhi’s Lok Sabha constituency Rae Barelli. This after the centre refused Maya a special protection group cover.
Last month, Mayawati threatened to review support to the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) at the centre, and is now accusing the party of plotting to have her assassinated. The Congress, though has not formally withdrawn support to the BSP in UP, has been opposing the government both in the assembly and outside.
“We will not remain silent if an underhand-like situation arises,” says party general secretary in charge of UP Digvijay Singh.
The BSP believes the Congress has not been grateful enough for its support to the UPA during presidential elections. It also accuses the centre of dragging its feet on the Rs80,000-cr special economic package sought by UP.
Though Congressmen refrain from coming on record, they say privately that the centre has done enough by nudging the state governor not to permit Maya’s persecution in the Taj corridor case. A senior UPA minister from UP told DNA, “Henceforth, the UP CM cannot expect any favours.”
Political observers are not surprised at the sparring between the parties. “The BSP’s electoral gains have been at the expense of the Congress. The two cannot coexist, they can only grow at the expense of each other,” says a former BSP MP.
The Congress is now coming around to the view that unless the BSP is contained in UP, it will harm its interests in states such as Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi.
Till a month-and-a-half ago everything appeared hunky dory. Mayawati and Sonia hosted each other for extended lunches. While the two top leaders have refrained from criticising each other, the relationship between the parties is approaching a point of no return.
j_ansari@dnaindia.net
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