Mayawati’s BSP says it holds ‘key’ to next govt in Madhya Pradesh

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has said it will play a key role in the formation of the next government in Madhya Pradesh as it expects a fractured verdict in the November 28 assembly polls.

Madhya Pradesh BSP president Pradeep Ahirwar said the party will vastly improve its tally and win 32 seats, and can even think of heading the next government. The state has a 230-member assembly.

“Neither the Bhartiya Janata Party nor the Congress is going to get a majority. In this case, the Congress would support us to form the government in Madhya Pradesh,” he said without elaborating.

The Dalit party, which refused to enter into a pre- poll alliance with the Congress, is going it alone in the central state, where the BJP is in power since 2003.

“We are going to win 32 assembly seats and create a record in our history of 34 years in Madhya Pradesh due to strong anti-incumbency wave against the BJP and Dalit unity,” he told PTI in an interview. “The key to next government formation will be with Behenji Mayawatiji (the BSP president),” he said.

“Our first priority is to form government in MP. We want Behanji to call the political shots in the state,” Ahirwar said.

The BSP leader ruled out backing the BJP post-poll. Ahirwar said Mayawati will address rallies in the state between November 18 and November 26.

The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister will address three public meetings each in Rewa and Chambal divisions and one each in Bhopal and the Mahakoshal region, he said.

BHOPAL:The