The proactive role played by Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supermo Mayawati in ensuring support of its MlAs to Harish Rawat during the crucial floor test on Tuesday has opened avenues for the party having tactical understanding or even an alliance with Congress in forthcoming assembly elections.
Speculations were being raised about stand of two BSP MlA’s Haridas and Sarawat Kareem Ansari during the floor test.
The utterances of these leaders that they were not accorded the respect-read ministerial berths-by Congress fueled these allegations. The BJP too did its best to poach these MlAs into its side. However just a day before the D day, Mayawati took things under her command and dispatched her lieutenant, Naseemuddin Siddiqui to the State capital. Siddiuqui conveyed the orders of BSP superemo to Haridas and Ansari; the orders were clear that beleaguered Harish Rawat should be supported.
The support provided the necessary oxygen to the Congress to survive the floor test and from then on Harish Rawat was sure of his victory.
The political observers are of the view that Mayawati do not want to give a message of BJP supporter to her voters of Uttar Pradesh.
BSP has a good support base among Muslim community in Uttar Pradesh (UP) and the party does not want to annoy them by siding with BJP in Uttarakhand.
Further BSP sees in Congress a potential ally in the triangular political scenario of UP involving SP, BJP and itself.
The new found bonhomie between Congress and BSP in Uttarakhand had its manifestation in the election for the post of President District Panchayat in Haridwar where the official candidate of BSP Mohammad Sattar withdrew in favor Congress candidate Savita Chaudhary.
One of a senior leader of BSP leader said that in the present political scenario, the party could enter into an electoral understanding with Congress in the forthcoming assembly elections.
A Congress, BSP electoral alliance would be formidable opposition to BJP in the state. Further by entering into an alliance with Congress the BSP would be able to prevent its elected MlAs from running away to after victory. BSP has pockets of influence in Uttarakhand. The party is very strong in Haridwar district which has very good population of Dalits and Muslims.
In this district the party had cornered an impressive 23 Percent votes in the general elections of 2009.
In the assembly elections of 2012 the Party candidates were able to bag three assembly seats (Bhagwanpur, Jharbera and Manglore) in this district.