BSP, Congress deny opposition alliance in UP finalised minus GOP

NEW DELHI: Reports that opposition parties have finalised a coalition sans Congress for fighting Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh triggered feverish speculations, prompting denials from BSP and Congress but reigniting the question on what could be the shape of the anti-BJP front in the politically critical state.

It has been reported that SP and BSP would contest almost equal number of seats in UP, with some room for RLD of Ajit Singh. However, Congress is likely to get only Amethi and Rae Bareli which are represented by the Gandhi family. There are also reports that BSP chief Mayawati will invite political parties except Congress for her birthday on January 15.

BSP leader Satish Chandra Mishra strongly denied reports on alliance or meeting. "It cannot be true," he said. AICC spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said negotiations on UP have not even started, adding that Congress was keen to be part of coalition with SP and BSP provided it was "respectable" and was "effective in preventing vote division".

"We are now talking of a process which has not yet started. We have neither been included nor been excluded," he added.

However, the denials only heightened the speculations on what would be the shape of "mahagatbandhan" in UP. It has been said that BSP is not keen on giving too much space to Congress in contrast to SP which is more accommodating.

Despite this, the two parties have decided to stick together to deepen their bonding, evident in the way they together kept away from an alliance with Congress in the recent polls in MP, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan and contested separately.

It is felt that BSP's reported aversion to Congress is as much to avoid giving it a bigger political share in UP as also to not come across as accepting its leadership of the opposition bloc nationally. There is also a belief that Congress candidates would pose a weaker challenge to BJP.

But there is also pressure within Congress that the party should not settle for "crumbs". Many believe that SP-BSP cannot afford to leave out Congress after its recent victory over BJP in three states demonstrated its ability to corral anti-saffron voters which include minorities that are crucial in UP.

It is to be seen if Congress is able to wrangle a decent share from the regional parties or settle for a lesser number in the interest of "winnability".