Mayawati rethinks on supporting UPA but gives repreive on FDI
She said she'll reconsider her opposition to FDI in retail if it proves to be beneficial for farmers
Even as BSP supremo Mayawati kept the UPA on tenterhooks, hinting at the possibility of early Lok Sabha polls and of rethinking her support to the government; Congress sources appeared not unduly worried and perceived this as “muscleflexing”. Mayawati who was addressing her first large rally post her Assembly defeat seven months ago, seemed to give a breather to the Congress led UPA saying she could reconsider her opposition to FDI in retail “if it proves to be beneficial for farmers”.
After the Trinamool Congress pulled out its support to the UPA, the coalition has been afloat bolstered by the support of the BSP and the Samajwadi party SP from the outside. Mayawati’s BSP has 21 MPs in the Lok Sabha and the Samajwadi party has 22 MPs, While SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav had recently made his stand clear, stating that he was supporting the UPA as he wanted to keep communal forces at bay, Mayawati had fixed October 9, the death anniversary of its founder Kanshi Ram to reveal her cards.
However, at today’s rally in the state capital Lucknow she said the decision would be taken at the party’s national executive to be held tomorrow.
Congress leaders speaking to Business Standard, expressed confidence that despite her threats, she would continue to support the UPA. “Mayawati could be talking of having early Lok Sabha polls but that is only to enthuse her partyworkers. In reality, early polls do not benefit her, she needs time to build up her party for the general elections and she is still reeling under the effects of a massive defeat.”
A UP Pradesh Congress leader said that Mayawati had in many ways indicated that she would not want to see the government fall at this juncture. However the leader added, that the Congress would prefer to “wait and watch” Mayawati’s actions. It may be recalled that in the past, Mayawati has withdrawn support to the UPA; in 2008 during UPA I the BSP who was then in power in Uttar Pradesh withdrew its support alleging that the Centre was misusing the CBI to harass her in the Taj Corridor case.
The Supreme Court ruling today making clear that it had not barred the CBI from probing the disproportionate case against the former UP chief minister Mayawati, added a fresh twist to the political developments.
As Mayawati mulls her options regarding her support to the UPA, the CBI’s actions regarding Mayawati’s case henceforth will be closely watched by all parties.