A day ahead of the crucial floor test, State BJP president Ajay Bhatt announced unconditional support for BSP for the upcoming panchayat polls on Monday, a move that is construed in the political circles as one meant to wean away BSP from the Congress. Significantly, two BSP comprise the PDF that, comprising six MlAs, has been supporting the Congress Government since 2012.
Observers say that the House strength having been reduced to 61 with the disqualification of nine rebel Congress MlAs by the High Court, Harish Rawat badly needs support from the two BSP MlAs to win the floor test.
The Congress has 27 MlAs while the BJP’s strength in the House stands at 27 too, sans the suspended MlA Bhimlal Arya. Two BSP MlAs deserting the Congress might land Harish Rawat in deep trouble. “Seen against this backdrop, State BJP president announcing support for BSP for the ensuing rural polls slated on May 13 while in Haridwar on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya snan might deepen wrinkles over the former CM’s brow,” one of the observers said.
Notably, in January this year, BSP-backed independent candidates secured maximum number of seats in the Zila Panchayat elections in Haridwar district, dealing in the process a deadly blow to the Congress and BJP in Uttarakhand.
Speaking to the media persons, Ajay Bhatt said, “Our party would back each of the candidates BSP would field in the Panchayat elections. Congress is already in the minority in the House and it needs support of others to sustain. BJP would win the trust vote, sans any glitch.”