Mayawati snubs Congress, to contest all Madhya Pradesh seats

Pouring cold water over grand 'Mahagathbandhan' plans, one of the key player in opposition ranks, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), has decided to contest the 29 seats in Madhya Pradesh alone in the Lok Sabha elections. BSP vice-president Ramji Gautam made the announcement in Bhopal, adding the orders came from party supremo Mayawati.

The BSP, whose alliance with the Congress fell through in Madhya Pradesh, contested alone in the state as well as in Rajasthan. The BSP, however, extended support to the Congress in both states, being a part of the government.

On the other hand, the BSP is now part of advanced level talks with the Samajwadi Party for an alliance in Uttar Pradesh, and Mayawati is going to Lucknow in the next few days to cement it.

Party leaders said a seat-sharing formula has been chalked out, with the talks now hinging on some seats.

The Congress, however, is preparing to contest the Lok Sabha elections in the state alone, which plays a deciding role in the general elections with 80 seats in the Parliament. The Congress has also been left out of Mayawati's birthday celebrations to be held in Lucknow on January 15, which is likely to be another show of opposition unity. Mayawati and SP did not attend or send representatives in the meeting of Opposition leaders a day ahead of the results of Assembly elections in five states, where the Congress won three states.

With the crucial Lok Sabha elections barely five months ahead, leaders of the coalition are driving a hard bargain for the Congress. However, the wins in the Hindi heartland has emboldened the Congress and the party is now in the process of deciding candidates in the state. The Congress' in-charge for UP, Prakash Joshi said the preparations have already begun.

"The decision on Mahagathbandhan has to be taken by the party, but in Lucknow we need to start our work," Joshi said.

It has also been widely reported that SP-BSP alliance is sealed. However, there is no official word from the BSP.

Mayawati had openly expressed her reservation with Congress, which is playing a key role in stitching Mahagathbandhan against Modi-led NDA government in 2019 general elections.