New Delhi/Lucknow: As the counting day for Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections draws closer, speculation is rife over rthe number game that’s likely to play out and determine who will claim the gaddi of Lucknow.
The CNN-IBN-Indian Express exit poll predicts Mayawati’s BSP is far ahead of nearest rival SP, but still needs some numbers for a majority. It now seems those numbers could well come from the Congress.
Initial indications show that a Congress-BSP tie-up is possibility, something the Congress leadership has been thinking of.
"Leave the SP and BSP and a strong group will emerge," said MoS Home, Sri Prakash Jaiswal.
While the party may be wary, it may give in to the pressure from the ranks and after being out of power for 18 years, patience is fast running out.
However, a dilemma still remains within the party. While Rahul Gandhi has indicated that he would prefer that the party sits in Opposition or at the most supports BSP from outside, Congress leaders want to be a part of the government.
But Mayawati doesn't share the enthusiasm of the Congress workers. “Neither do we want inside nor outside support,” she said.
Mayawati may have to do a rethink. Exit polls show that BSP is likely to get around 150-160 seats, up from 98 that it had won in 2002, but still short of majority.
On earlier occasions BSP has taken support from both the Samajwadi party and the BJP, though these alliance could not sustain for long.
It now remains to be seen if Mayawati would like to form the government with the Congress - a party with whom she shares a large and crucial Dalit vote bank.
(With inputs from Meetu Jain)
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