The mercurial national president of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Mayawati, has locked herself in her citadel, like a latter-day political princess, at her residence in the Capital. But the next 24 hours may well turn into a grim fairy tale for all those political suitors who would be actively wooing the BSP leader, in the event of a Hung Parliament.Both major political formations, led by the BJP and Congress, know that any invitation to the BSP would extract a heavy price from them. Mayawati will ask for nothing less than the dismissal of Mulayam’s government in Lucknow and bargain for a slot at the Centre. However, all this depends on how many seats she gets. The BSP leader has kept a silence ever since campaigning ended.According to her aides, Mayawati has instructed her office not to accept any calls from the media, political leaders and busy middle-men. She has spent most of the last four days at home, visiting her party office only once. The only unusual visitor to her residence has been her regular beautician, who came over the weekend. Perhaps she realises the beneficial effects of a power bob and a galvanic facial.Mayawati briefly met the media today when she ‘exhibited’ her mentor and BSP founder Kanshi Ram, after an unsavoury controversy broke out. Kanshi Ram’s brothers had alleged yesterday she was keeping him a prisoner and they were worried she might kill him. Mayawati prodded a sobbing Kanshi Ram to tell the world he preferred her to his ‘estranged’ brothers.Despite her tough postures, both the BJP and Congress have been tempted to look at a possible alliance. While the BJP has learnt its bitter lessons at least thrice, with its coalition governments in UP, the Congress enters virgin territory if it comes to an alliance with the BSP. But speculation is rife on Mayawati’s inclination if her support is required by either the NDA, Congress-led secular coalition or a Third Front. Party spokesman Sudhir Goel said Mayawati will ‘‘reveal her cards after the results are out.’’
