Mayawati cosies up to Narendra Modi as party MLA supports BJP in Haryana

LUCKNOW: In what could be a strong sign of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) cosying up to Narendra Modi, the lone BSP MLA in Haryana - Tek Chand Sharma - has pledged support to BJP claiming that he did so following direction from party chief Mayawati.

The move comes after BSP, which could not win even a single seat in the Lok Sabha polls earlier this year and fared poorly in the Maharashtra and Haryana polls, is on the verge of losing its status of a national party.

BJP swept Haryana in the recent Assembly elections, winning 47 seats in the 90-member Assembly. BSP's tally in Haryana has come down from two to one while it could not win any seat in Maharashtra.

Speaking to TOI on phone Sharma confirmed that he pledged support to BJP on the direction of BSP supremo Mayawati. "I have offered support in writing to the BJP, saying that it would be for the development of Haryana," he said.

Asked as to why he did not sit in opposition, Sharma said that it would not have served any purpose if anything constructive was to be done for Haryana.

While party general secretary and Mayawati's close aide, Satish Chandra Mishra was not available for comments, BSP state president in Haryana, Naresh Sarang feigned ignorance about Sharma lending his support to the BJP which has an absolute majority. "The party leadership would be able to comment on it,'' he said, while speaking to TOI.

Earlier, Mayawati had predicted a win for BJP in states which go to poll next year. She, though, had said that people wanted to give more time to the BJP to test it.

The development comes on the heels of BJP announcing Manohar Lal Khattar, a non-Jat, as its CM candidate in Haryana. Mayawati too had been vouching for a non-Jats playing a crucial role in Haryana politics. She had announced Arvind Sharma, a Brahmin, as her party's CM-candidate .

Political expert and observer of Dalit politics SR Darapuri said providing unconditional support to BJP was important for BSP in Harayana. "Mayawati has been facing a disproportionate asset case and therefore supporting the ruling BJP is enough indication of her getting inclined towards Modi," he said.

Darapuri claimed that Mayawati has always had good relations with the BJP. "She had thrice formed government in UP with the help of BJP," he said.