Mayawati keeps Cong, BJP guessing

Keeping BSP’s options of a pre-poll electoral pact open, party president Mayawati today kickstarted the party’s Lok Sabha election...

Keeping BSP’s options of a pre-poll electoral pact open, party president Mayawati today kickstarted the party’s Lok Sabha election campaign in Maharashtra by lashing out at both Congress and the BJP.

‘‘Many manuvadi political parties are approaching the BSP for a pre-poll electoral alliance but I have not decided anything as yet in this regard,’’ she told a largely-attended Swabhiman rally at the sprawling Shivaji Park in central Mumbai.

The BSP leader indicated that at present she would prefer to maintain equidistance from both the BJP and the Congress. Mayawati blasted the Congress for ‘‘failing’’ to address the issues of farmers and the unemployed and ameliorate the conditions of dalits in its four-and-half decade rule.

Story continues below this ad

In a speech, that lasted for nearly two hours, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister ridiculed BJP’s ‘‘feel-good’’ factor saying ‘‘has the party asked how many dalits are feeling good in their rule’’.

However, Mayawati said she would take a decision regarding joining hands with a manuvadi party only with the consideration of the alliance benefiting the ‘‘bahujan samaj’’ at large.