Prez poll: BSP extends unconditional backing to UPA
BSP supremo Mayawati, whose party holds substantial number of votes to tilt the scales in the presidential election, on Tuesday announced "unconditional" support to the UPA nominee, giving a major boost to the ruling alliance's prospects in the po...
By PTI |
NEW DELHI: BSP supremo Mayawati, whose party holds substantial number of votes to tilt the scales in the presidential election, on Tuesday announced "unconditional" support to the UPA nominee, giving a major boost to the ruling alliance's prospects in the poll.
After an overnight dinner she hosted for Congress President Sonia Gandhi at her residence, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister told a press conference that an understanding has been reached between them on the candidate to be fielded by the UPA but declined to name the personality.
With over 58,000 BSP votes, Mayawati's formal announcement of backing strengthens UPA's position in the next month elections in which the ruling alliance has already over 5.13 lakh votes in an electoral college of 10.98 lakh votes. As of now, the NDA has strength of over 3.54 lakh votes and a combination of eight regional parties constituting the third front has about 1.05 lakh votes.
Mayawati made her position of support to UPA clear by saying the question of supporting NDA or Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekawat as an independent "does not arise".
"Communal forces should not get any boost and their nominee should not succeed," she said in reply to questions. Asked whether her support to UPA was laced with conditions and whether she had placed any demand for the Vice President's post for her nominee, she said "there is neither any condition nor any claim".
After an overnight dinner she hosted for Congress President Sonia Gandhi at her residence, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister told a press conference that an understanding has been reached between them on the candidate to be fielded by the UPA but declined to name the personality.
With over 58,000 BSP votes, Mayawati's formal announcement of backing strengthens UPA's position in the next month elections in which the ruling alliance has already over 5.13 lakh votes in an electoral college of 10.98 lakh votes. As of now, the NDA has strength of over 3.54 lakh votes and a combination of eight regional parties constituting the third front has about 1.05 lakh votes.
Mayawati made her position of support to UPA clear by saying the question of supporting NDA or Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekawat as an independent "does not arise".
"Communal forces should not get any boost and their nominee should not succeed," she said in reply to questions. Asked whether her support to UPA was laced with conditions and whether she had placed any demand for the Vice President's post for her nominee, she said "there is neither any condition nor any claim".
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