BJP lets go of Rajya Sabha seat to cosy up to BSP, be seen as Dalit-friendly

NEW DELHI/LUCKNOW: In what is seen as a shift from its "take-no-prisoners" approach, BJP decided to forego one Rajya Sabha berth it could have bagged in UP to facilitate the election of BSP's national coordinator, Ramji Lal Gautam to the upper House — a move which can help it resist being cast as "anti-Dalit" and can potentially change equations in the most populous state.

The switch from the approach so far to maximise its returns has already fetched it dividends in the form of BSP chief Mayawati softening her stance towards the "secular" formation.

Although she emphasised BSP's ideological opposition to BJP, the former UP chief minister made it clear that for her, it is now SP which is the main opponent: a recalibration of threat perception which will ensure that BJP is not presented with an opposition phalanx in the next assembly polls.


“As I have said earlier, BSP will vote in favour of BJP to ensure defeat of Samajwadi Party candidates,” Mayawati said soon after Rajya Sabha poll results were announced in which her party nominee Gautam was declared elected unopposed with nine others in UP.

Gautam was elected despite having the assured support of just nine MLAs because of BJP's surprise decision not to field a candidate for the seat despite having a surplus 22 votes, including nine belonging to its ally Apna Dal and three Independents.