BJP feels the heat of Maya's Congress ties

Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati's growing proximity to Congress President Sonia Gandhi does not seem to be going down well with the BSP's erstwhile ally, the BJP.

Reacting to Mayawati's announcement of support to the UPA candidate for the Presidential polls, the BJP termed it an "unprecedented deal-making".

"The meeting between Sonia Gandhi and Mayawati clearly shows that there has been a fair deal of give and take on the question of support to the UPA's candidate. This is unfortunate," said BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar.

Mayawati, aware of speculation as a result of her proximity to the Congress, took on the BJP. "We are supporting the UPA to prevent communal forces from taking over. I know you all must be thinking as to why I have developed this aversion to the BJP, after having formed the government with them thrice," she said, adding, "At that time, the welfare of the state and the people of Uttar Pradesh demanded that such a compromise be made."

The BSP chief said her support to the UPA's candidate was unconditional in spite of the charge that this was in exchange for the help she got in the Taj Corridor case, in which the governor did not allow the CBI to proceed against Mayawati. "There is neither any condition nor any claim," she said.

With over 58,000 votes, the BSP's support strengthens UPA in the next month's elections, in which the ruling alliance has already over 5.13 lakh votes in an electoral college of 10.98 lakh votes.

The NDA will meet tomorrow to announce the candidature of Bhairon Singh Shekhawat for the Presidential polls. As of now, the NDA has a strength of over 3.54 lakh votes. A combination of eight regional parties comprising the Third Front has about 1.05 lakh votes.