SP, BSP go into a huddle
BJP leaders predict over 74 seats for saffron party in UP
Lucknow, May 20: A day after exit polls forecast a return of the NDA at the Centre, enthused state BJP leaders predicted Uttar Pradesh would give them more than 74 of its 80 seats, a claim dismissed by the SP-BSP camp whose top leaders met to discuss post-poll scenarios.
At the UP BJP office in Lucknow, pointing to electoral maps of the state, detailing parliamentary and assembly constituencies, party leaders and functionaries from various districts indicated places from where SP-BSP alliance candidates would lose and claimed the SPBSP alliance would break up after the results are announced.
As for SP-BSP, they do not agree with the projections that the NDA would get over 300 seats in the country.
BSP president Mayawati appeared to be opting for a wait-and-watch policy till results are announced on May 23. “The future course of action will be decided only after the final results are announced. Till then, she (Mayawati) will be in the state capital,” a party source said, requesting anonymity.
Multiple exit polls have suggested that the SPBSP-RLD alliance is likely to dent the Bharatiya Janata Party’s 2014 tally in Uttar Pradesh, though it might not be enough to throw a spanner in the formation of an NDA government at the Centre.
Against the backdrop of the exit poll projections, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav drove to the residence of Mayawati in the morning and held talks with for about an hour.
“We (SP-BSP-RLD) should get nothing less than 55 seats as the alliance has done exceedingly well. We expect around 60 (out of 80) seats. We do not agree with exit poll projections,” another source said.
Meanwhile, with most BSP leaders preferring to remain in their districts after hectic electioneering, there was not much activity in the party camp in Lucknow. “The party leaders will come to the state capital only after May 23. They have been asked to stay in their respective districts and oversee the counting process,” a party leader said.
Roads outside the BSP office and Mayawati’s residence reflected the caution with which the party is treading.