Fresh setback for Congress as Mayawati rules out alliance

Decision could impact opposition’s plan for grand alliance against BJP in Lok Sabha polls

In yet another setback for the Congress party, the leader of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Mayawati, yesterday ruled out any alliance with the party in the coming Assembly polls in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

The decision could impact the opposition’s plan for a grand alliance against the BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

“The Congress is two steps ahead of the BJP in attempts to finish the BSP politically,” she told a press conference.

“In the interest of the BSP movement, it has been decided that the party would not ally with the Congress in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan at any cost.”

The BSP chief’s announcement comes nearly a fortnight after her statement ruling out an alliance with the Congress in Chhattisgarh.

PTI ■ Mayawati with Sonia and Rahul Gandhi. Mayawati dashed hopes of a tie-up in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.