UP decides who becomes PM, forms government at Centre: Mayawati

LUCKNOW: Celebrating her 63rd birthday on Tuesday, BSP chief Mayawati appealed to both BSP and Samajwadi Party workers to set aside their differences, overlook personal agendas and ensure the victory of the alliance in the Lok Sabha elections.

"The victory would be the best birthday gift you can give me," she said. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav greeted Mayawati at her residence and presented her with a bouquet and shawl, meeting her again just three days after the rollout of their historic alliance. The two spoke for over an hour.

While appealing to the cadre to ensure victory, Mayawati said Uttar Pradesh decides which party forms government in Delhi and who becomes prime minister. Akhilesh, too, had made a similar pitch while announcing the BSP-SP pact on January 12, saying he would be happy if UP sent the next PM to Parliament. The two parties have come together after a long, controversial history marked by confrontations, including the infamous guest house attack.

In a politically crucial statement ahead of 2019 elections, Mayawati also batted for quotas for economically backward Muslims and other religious minorities. With Congress contesting independently, Muslims votes will be crucial for the success of the "gatbandhan" (alliance).