Mayawati and opposition unity: What compulsions drive her posturing?

By allying with Ajit Jogi in Chhattisgarh, she has sent strong signals to the Congress

After Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati stunned the Congress party by announcing an alliance with Ajit Jogi’s Janata Congress Chhattisgarh (JCC), there was speculation that she was forced to do so by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). 

Rumours are that government agencies have tightened the screws on Mayawati’s relatives suspected of managing her ‘benami’ properties. However, there is no evidence in the public domain of any of her relatives being summoned by the agencies.
 

Moreover, any possible use of coercion by the BJP government against Mayawati on the eve of elections would be limited by the fact that it