Mayawati to join Opposition front only if given respectable seat share

The grand alliance led by the SP-BSP could cause major damage to the BJP. The combined vote share of the SP and the BSP comes to 43% and 44% in these elections. Adding the Congress’s vote share takes these numbers above 50%.

A major upset in UP can spoil the BJP’s ambitions of repeating its 2014 performance. The parting of ways between the Janata Dal (United) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal in Bihar is an example of the post-poll breakdown of a successful grand alliance against the BJP.

Speaking during a press conference in Lucknow BSP supremo Mayawati said that she is ready to join hands with opposition parties to stop the BJP in upcoming elections only if her party is given a respectable number of seats. “Otherwise the BSP will contest elections alone.

She attacked the BJP and accused it of “politicising” the death of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. She said the BJP “needs to be exposed” before the people for the damage it has caused due to demonetisation.

As per the report alliance negotiations between the two parties have been going on in these states. While the BSP is the junior partner vis-à-vis the Congress in these three states, the tables will turn in Uttar Pradesh, where the BSP walking out can be a big spoiler.