Maya to take oath as UP's next Chief Minister tomorrow

Lucknow, May 12 (UNI) The era of coalition government comes to an end in the politically turbulent state of Uttar Pradesh which is poised to turn a new chapter when the first majority government in 14 years led by Mayawati swears in at 1300 hrs tomorrow.

Belying all speculation of a hung assmebly, the Bahujan Samajwadi Party trampled all its political opponents to emerge as a formidable political entity.

Declaring that the BSP is no longer a mere Dalit outfit and thanking the upper caste for overwhelming faith in the ideologies and policies of the party, Ms Mayawati is all set to take oath for the fourth time and the first time without the support of any political party.

With Presidential election round the corner and the next Lok Sabha polls not far away, the political developments in Uttar Pradesh are going to have a major impact on the political future of the country.

If there is anything to go by her interaction with the media yesterday after the results of the UP assembly polls were announced, the promise to rid the state of the caste politics is too much of the expectation from a much-mellowed Mayawati. The success of Brahamin card by a party which had always been touted as a Dalit party and distributed ticket to 86 Brahmins this time during the polls will be an interesting proposition to be seen and experienced when she leads the government.

Ms Mayawati is likely to be sworn in with a small council of ministers which will be expanded later. Lack of seasoned legislators and balance between the Dalit and the upper caste would be another act of a tight-rope walk for the Dalit leader, once described by the late Prime Minister P V Narsimha Rao as the ''miracle of the Indian democracy''.

Equally interesting would be to see the Mulayam Singh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party as the main Opposition party which had been rejected for ''rampant corruption'' in its ranks and its inability to inculcate sense of security in the people of the state.

More UNI