BJP says new alliance reflects contradictions

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) believes that the Bahujan Samaj Party’s (BSP) decision to forge an alliance with former chief minister, Ajit Jogi, in Chhattisgarh and unilaterally announce 22 candidates for Madhya Pradesh is a reflection of the contradictions that will emerge both while forming a grand alliance in Uttar Pradesh and carving out a national alternative to the BJP, two BJP leaders said.

This will weaken the Congress further and improve the BJP’s prospects, they added.

The BSP was in talks with the Congress in both the states.

BJP leaders argue this will have a repercussion in Uttar Pradesh where the Congress needs her more. “She has a committed vote. She feels 2019 is her moment. Why will she not dictate terms?” a union minister said.

Mayawati is reluctant to accept the Congress’s demand for more than a dozen seats in Uttar Pradesh, and she feels the presence of the Congress is limited to Raebareli and Amethi..., a person close to the BSP chief said. The BSP is in talks with the Samajwadi Party and the Rashtriya Lok Dal for Uttar Pradesh.

“There is little room for the Congress, with the kind of demands it is making,” the BSP leader said. “Chhattisgarh has shown that Mayawati is very clear when it comes to seat sharing negotiations. She will forge an alliance on her terms.”

The BJP calls this good news. “The Kairana by-election showed that the BJP retained its votes and the difference between us and the grand alliance was marginal. Mayawati’s decision is surely going to help us...” the minister said.

Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said, “What applies to Chhattisgarh certainly doesn’t automatically apply to Madhya Pradesh, does not automatically apply to other states such as Uttar Pradesh or Rajasthan. I don’t think you can generalise,” Singhvi said.

NEWDELHI: