Mayawati snubs Lalu Prasad, Mulayam Singh Yadav; says BSP will contest elections alone

LUCKNOW: A possible coming together of Mulayam Singh Yadav and Mayawati, triggered by a casual comment from the Samajwadi Party leader, ruled the media space in UP for most of the day on Wednesday before both sides dismissed it as mere speculation.

In a knee-jerk response to RJD chief Lalu Prasad’s constant calls for the two UP leaders to fight the BJP together, Mulayam told reporters in New Delhi, "If Lalu manages to hold her by the hand and bring her to me I am willing to align with BSP."

This triggered a flurry of speculation of the coming together of the two arch-rivals who both performed miserably in the recent Lok Sabha polls with BJP sweeping the elections.

Late in the evening, Mayawati put all the speculation to rest when she said, "Lalu has said that we must join hands with SP. But for me and my party respect and honour is bigger than power."

Talking in Delhi, she added, "Lalu does not know that Mulayam is BJP’s agent. He is behind the communal riots in UP. I will never align with Mulayam. BSP will contest the elections alone in UP."

A little while later Mulayam too said SP will go solo in UP. "What has happened in Bihar. In UP we will contest alone," he said.