Mayawati keeps UPA guessing, hints at early polls

, Oct 9: Congress-led

coalition will have to wait for one more day to know whether Bahujan Samaj Party (

) supremo

will support their government at the Centre or not. At a BSP's grand rally on Tuesday, Oct 9 in Lucknow, Mayawati announced that her party would take a final decision on the matter on Wednesday, Oct 10.

Currently, BSP is giving outside support to UPA. However, the dalit leader did not rule out early elections. Political experts say BSP holds great importance to UPA government and they would like to have her support to survive continued threats to their government.

The rally formally kick-started her party's 2014 Lok Sabha election campaign. The rally coincided with sixth death anniversary of the party founder Kanshiram.

This was BSP's first rally after their loss in UP Assembly elections early this year.

In her rally, Mayawati attacked Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav. She said that Samajwadi Party (SP) failed to provide safety and security to the people of Uttar Pradesh as law and order situation has deteriorated in the state in last six months. She called Uttar Pradesh as "Crime Pradesh". Mayawati said "goonda raj" is back in Uttar Pradesh. The former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh said women were no more safe in the state.

"During my government in UP, we maintained peace, law and order in the state," said Mayawati.

Accusing the SP government of promoting corruption, Mayawati said, "We provided employment opportunities to the jobless instead of paying them. The promise of giving laptops or tabs to students will end up in these being sold at shops."

The BSP chief also attacked Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and said both parties were responsible for the downfall of her party in last assembly polls.

"The Congress and the BJP are responsible for the sufferings of the people of UP. They worked together secretly with the SP against the BSP. Both the Congress and the BJP worked against the BSP to ensure that we do not come to power in UP again. They are afraid of the growth of the BSP in UP. I am confident that the people of UP will give a befitting reply to all the three parties in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections," Mayawati said.

The rally was called to "ponder, deliberate and announce" the BSP's stand on issues like allowing the FDI in multi-brand retail and the diesel price hike.

OneIndia News