Coalition Needed For Balance Of Power: Mayawati Open To Post-Poll Alliance As BSP Decides To Contest Elections Alone

After announcing that the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) will not be joining any of the two major alliances (INDIA and NDA), the party chief Mayawati hinted at the possibility of forming a post-poll alliance with either of the two blocs.

Following a meeting with senior party leaders in New Delhi, Mayawati stated on Tuesday (25 July) that the decision to join a government would be made after the upcoming Assembly elections in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Telangana.

BSP's primary focus would be to ensure a "balance of power" and uplift the marginalized, Dalits, and backward sections of society, she said.

Mayawati emphasized the importance of a coalition government committed to the welfare of the people, rather than a strong and arrogant government. She expressed her willingness to work with a coalition that prioritizes the welfare of minorities and marginalized sections.

In a previous statement, Mayawati had mentioned that her party would contest the upcoming Assembly elections independently and not form an alliance with any other party.

The BSP leader pointed out that the party had previously emerged as a "balance of power" in several states but accused "anti-BSP and casteist elements" of using various tactics to break away party MLAs for their pursuit of power, which had affected the BSP movement.

The BJP and Congress are the dominant players in three of these states, while Telangana may witness a three-cornered contest involving the BRS, BJP, and Congress.

The recent statement by the BSP indicates its willingness to become a part of either the Congress or the BJP-led governments in these states in the future, paving the way for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

In the 2018 Assembly elections, the BSP secured six seats in Rajasthan and two each in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. After the elections, the BSP extended support to the Congress in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh to keep the BJP out of power.

However, the BSP MLAs switched sides to join the Congress for personal gains, a BSP leader said. The BSP leader believes that if the party formally joins the government and its MLAs become ministers, they are less likely to leave the party, which would help strengthen the party's base and support the deprived sections.

When asked about the possibility of joining either the NDA or INDIA, the BSP leader clarified that the party is not focusing on any particular party. Instead, they will decide on joining the government based on their position as a "balance of power" after the elections.