BJP may strike deal with Maulayam: Left Parties

New Delhi, Apr 22: The BJP may extend outside support to Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav to facilitate his return to power in Uttar Pradesh as part of its game-plan to get his endorsement for Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat's candidature for presidentship in July, Left leaders said today.

This is one of the post-poll possibilities predicted by Left parties. Another possibility is of the BSP aligning with the BJP despite the latter's assertion that it would not join hands with BSP supremo Mayawati in view of past bitter experiences.

In separate interviews to UNI in the backdrop of reported lukewarm response to Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's roadshows in Uttar Pradesh, the BSP, at the forefront and the BJP and the SP on the decline with the Congress not gaining much, top Left leaders assert that the outcome of the polls would spark re-alignment of political forces at the Centre.

CPI leaders A B Bardhan and Shamim Faizi contend that as far as UP is concerned, only two possibilities exist- either the BSP gets support from the forces aligning with the BJP, as it had done on three earlier occassions or Mr Yadav gets outside support from the BJP to recapture the post of Chief Minister.

''It has become obvious by now that regional forces are veering around the concept that there could be a Third Front which will not hesitate to seek the support of the BJP,'' the CPI leaders said.

CPI General Secretary Mr Bardhan said this was important, particularly in the context of the presidential elections. ''Even the BJP would like the so-called Third Front 'wallas' to endorse Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat's elevation to one of the country's highest constitutional office.'' The CPI leaders maintained they would not hesitate to back Mr Yadav to form a government with outside support. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar is already reconciled to support Mr Shekhawat to realise his dream of becoming the country's Prime Minister, they added.

CPI(M) Polit bureau member and Rajya Sabha MP Sitaram Yechury said while it was true that the BSP seemed to be running ahead of rivals in the polls, it had to be ensured that the BJP did not play any role in the formation of the government there.

''It has to be a non- BJP government under all circumstances'' Mr Yechury said.

On the review of support to the UPA government, as suggested by the three other Left constituents, Mr Yechury said the government would have to take a mid-course correction or pay a ''heavy political price''.

On the possibility of a Third Front of regioanl parties, CPI leaders recalled a recent pictorial biography release function of Mr Pawar which was solemnised by Mr Shekhawat. Furthermore, Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray has been harping on the fact that Mr Pawar can make reality of a Maratha capturing the Delhi throne by aligning with the BJP- Shiv Sena, Mr Faizi said.

Mr Faizi, CPI National Secretary and editor of party organ New Age, said, ''there may be a possibility that several regional leaders may buy this bait.'' However, the real crux of the problem is that the Left is averse to agreeing to a Third Front that is indirectly supported by the BJP, and it is ''facing a dilemma'' as the UPA government is not heeding to its advice to suggestions on economic issues.

Furthermore, the process of privatisation of Chennai and Kolkata airports has started. The UPA government, is also not ready to consider their suggestions like comprehensive legislation for agriculture workers and social security provisions for 370 million unorganised workers and desisting from privatisation of banking sector, the Pension Fund and Insurance, CPI leaders said.

The Left dilemma nothwithstanding, the country, in the context of UP poll results, is bound for a new political realignment. '' The Left has to adopt the new political reality. It will have to sooner or later'', the CPI leaders added.

Forward Bloc National Secretary G Devrajan, while endorsing the CPI leadership's point of view, said Left parties were already in the process of analysing the government's nearly three years' performance.

''Soon after the UP poll results, they will sit and take some firm decision on their support to the central government in the backdrop of the BJP regaining its foothold on the national political scenario,'' Mr Devrajan said.

He said the most important thing was to understand that the very purpose of supporting the Congress- led coalition to prevent the BJP from the national political scene did not seem to work.

UNI