Maya extends support to Cong in MP, Rajasthan but has a ‘rider’

Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, December 12

The Congress looks all set to form a government in Madhya Pradesh with BSP chief Mayawati announcing support to the grand old party a while ago.

Mayawati said her party would support the Congress in Rajasthan also, if need be, to achieve the goal of keeping the BJP away from power.

“We had contested the MP and Rajasthan elections for keeping the BJP away from power. We have now decided to support the Congress in government formation in MP and also in Rajasthan, if the need arises, just to keep the BJP out of power even though we don’t agree with the Congress policies and thoughts.”

Mayawati’s party has won two seats in MP and six in Rajasthan.

The Congress has not been able to cross the majority mark in Rajasthan getting 99 seats, two short of the simple majority of 101 in a house of 200 members.

In MP also, the Congress has fallen short of majority by two seats having scored 114 as against the BJP’s 108.

The SP has won one seat in MP and will back a Congress government.

Mayawati and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav had not attended the opposition party meet in the capital the day before and have remained upset with the Congress for failed seat-sharing talks in MP and Chhattisgarh earlier.

The two parties have thawed since Tuesday’s results which have given the Congress successes in the Hindi heartland.