Maya gives UPA reason to smile

“The national executive is meeting this evening,” she said, “it is only after consultations with my party leaders that I can come to a decision.” On persistent queries, Mayawati finally snapped, “We are a democratic party, I cannot say anything until I have consulted everyone. It is an important issue, we will dwell on it and make a choice carefully. I will reveal my cards then.”

However, it was Mayawati and her now trusted confidant, BSP MP Satish Mishra, who went to have tea with Sonia in the afternoon. “The Congress President invited me, and I have accepted,” she had said earlier. The Chief Minister drove into 10, Janpath, and spent more than 50 minutes with Sonia, and Congress strategist Ahmed Patel.

While Mayawati did not stop to meet the press waiting outside and sources said she brought no new name to the table, indications are that she is willing to go along with the UPA’s choice of candidate clearing the way for a UPA-Left-BSP choice.

At the press conference itself, she made it clear that she would continue to support the UPA from the outside, as nothing had changed after her victory.

“We supported the Congress-led UPA coalition at the Centre to keep communal forces out even when we were in opposition, why should it change now?” Sources also said there is no question of Mayawati proposing a name for the Vice-President’s post, a rumour swirling in the last few days. “She knows her limitations,” said a BSP source.

It was a packed ballroom in a five-star hotel that received the victorious UP Chief Minister.

Flanked by her new super power structure, Mishra, and her Cabinet Secretary, Shashank Shekhar Singh, apart from spokesperson and now Cabinet Minister, Sudhir Goel, Mayawati launched into her speech, reading out from her handwritten script. She outlined yet again her party’s commitment to good governance, law and order and, development, but it was in her exchange with the media that she displayed her characteristic temperament — sometimes convivial, even jovial, and then sharp and snappy.

Mayawati explained her government’s decision to ask the Centre to review the Anil Ambani Group’s Special Economic Zone in Noida.

“My rivals like former Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav have been spreading stories that I have gone on a political witch hunt. Let me make it clear that we will review only those decisions taken by the previous government that broke rules, or were anti-people.

Yesterday, on the basis of a committee report, we sent a note to the Centre as it was found that guidelines were flouted in the case of Reliance Energy’s Dadri power project, which also has Special Economic Zone status. There is no political vendetta.”

The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister said the “BSP government was committed to bringing justice to Dalits,” adding that she would work for backward classes and the economically backward among upper castes. “The backlog of reservation in state government jobs will be cleared within six months,” she said.

“All the land given to Dalits on lease but occupied by upper castes will be given back to Dalits. One hundred per cent.”

Later tonight, after dinner with her national executive members, Mayawati slipped away without further comment.