MAYAWATI, JOGI MEET TRIGGERS TALKS OF TIEUP
LUCKNOW: The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) is likely to go for a pre-poll alliance with the Chhattisgarh Janta Congress (CJC), led by the state’s former chief minister Ajit Jogi.
Jogi met BSP chief Mayawati in New Delhi on Wednesday, triggering speculation of a tie-up between BSP and CJC for Chhattisgarh assembly election in December.
Jogi had parted ways with Congress in 2016 to launch the CJC, paving the way for the formation of the third force in Chattisgarh politics, where there has been straight contest between BJP and Congress in the assembly election.
The BSP has influence in a few pockets of the state known for its forest and waterfalls. In the 2014 assembly election, BSP polled 4.27% votes and secured victory on one seat. The BSP and CJC hope to gain ground in the state, making inroads into the Congress and BJP vote base.
A senior BSP leader said Jogi is undergoing treatment in a Delhi hospital. After being discharged from hospital he met Mayawati at her residence.
Both leaders discussed the political scenario in Chhattisgarh as well as formation of a non-BJP and no- Congress front for the assembly election, he said.
Congress has weakened after the rebellion of Jogi and the alliance plans to cash in on the antiincumbency factor against the BJP government led by Raman Singh. To strengthen the organization and gear up the cadre for the assembly polls, Mayawati appointed senior leader Lalji Verma as in-charge of Chhattisgarh. To give prominence to the loyal leaders in the state unit, the organization was also rejiged, the BSP leader said.
Political observer RK Gautam said Mayawati is working to make BSP a player in national politics by allying with regional parties in states where it enjoys influence over Dalit voters. In Karnataka, BSP went for pre-poll alliance with JD (S). Mayawati played a pivotal role in the formation of the non-BJP government and her party joined the HD Kumaraswamy government there as well, he said.
While in UP, BSP tied up with arch rival SP, it also formed alliance with Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) in Karnataka, he said.