• Source:JND
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Amid the leaders of the INDIA bloc knitting a formidable alliance against the mighty BJP ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, the role of certain regional, yet powerful, leaders is still incomprehensible in the broad political spectrum. One such leader is former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and BSP supremo Mayawati. 

Mayawati on Monday categorically conveyed that her party would go solo into the polls but at the same time left the door for a post-poll alliance open. "BSP will not go in alliance with anyone but the option is open for a post-poll alliance," Mayawati said.

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BSP chief said her decisions of the pre-poll alliance have proved counterproductive and the party ended up losing more than any profit, as the votes got transferred to the alliance. However, stats say otherwise as BSP, which had zero lawmakers in Lok Sabha in the 2014 polls, managed to amass 10 seats in the 2019 election after an alliance with SP and RLD in Uttar Pradesh. 

Mayawati’s apprehensions:

As per psephologists, Mayawati has closely been monitoring the action of central probe agencies against non-BJP government and Opposition leaders. She, despite categorically outlining her ideological differences with the BJP, doesn’t want to be at loggerheads with the saffron party. Many believe there is an undisclosed amiability between the BJP and BSP, owing to which Mayawati in a press conference indicated her voters to vote for BJP in the 2022 UP assembly polls. Probably, the BJP has been seeing Mayawati as a leader who could benefit them by denting the vote of the INDI alliance in Uttar Pradesh.   

INDIA Bloc’s desperation to have Mayawati:

As per reports, the Congress party has been trying hard to induct BSP in the INDIA alliance. Mayawati, being a giant Dalit face in the country, could help the alliance garner Dalit votes from across the country. 

As per the anonymous sources quoted by the TOI, the senior leaders of the Congress and BJP are in touch. However, they refused to comment on media reports about Priyanka Gandhi's meeting with BSP chief Mayawati recently. "Any equation that helps defeat the BJP is a need of the hour and therefore this is also being explored. Leaders of the two sides have spoken over the phone twice in the past week," said the leader quoted by the news outlet.

Mayawati’s vote share is declining but no one can deny her relevance in Uttar Pradesh politics.BSP has influence in Uttar Pradesh and also some adjoining parts in neighbouring states.

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Akhilesh’s reluctance:

Former UP CM and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav is reportedly unhappy over the idea of including Mayawati in the alliance. He has cited his experience to back his idea. While addressing a press conference on Monday, Mayawati launched a scathing attack on Akhilesh. She said Akhilesh Yadav ‘keeps changing his colour like a chamaeleon’. The trigger seems to be Akhilesh Yadav's response to a media query about INDIA's reluctance to rope in the BSP to which Yadav had replied that there was no certainty that BSP would stick to the alliance after elections. Following this, Mayawati has been on an attacking spree on the Samajwadi Party which signals further dilution of any hope of the party joining the alliance and fighting alongside the SP.