This is an archive article published on October 5, 2018
BSP’s unreasonable demand in Madhya Pradesh led to talks breaking down: Congress leader
Mayawati Wednesday said her party will contest the polls in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh on its own. Calling the Congress “arrogant” with a “casteist and communal mindset”, she said people had not forgiven the Congress for their “corrupt government”.
Written by Manoj C G
, Milind Ghatwai
Bhopal, New Delhi | Updated: October 5, 2018 07:06 AM IST
4 min read
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The BSP had won 11 seats in 1998 which came down to 2 in 2003. It improved its tally to 7 in 2008 and came down to four in the last Assembly polls in 2013.
Even though the BSP had already announced candidates for 22 seats, the Congress had kept its hopes up about stitching up an alliance in some seats of Madhya Pradesh. Now, Mayawati’s decision that the BSP will go it alone has jolted the Congress. A top Congress leader Thursday said the BSP’s demand was for 50 seats, while the Congress was ready to give around 15 seats.
Senior Congress leader Satyavrat Chaturvedi told The Indian Express that the BSP’s “unreasonable demand” was the reason for talks breaking down. He said the BSP has been contesting elections in MP and winning around 4 to 5 seats in the last four-five Assembly elections. “When Mayawati is in power in UP, the BSP impact in MP used to be a bit more…now she is weak in UP too,” he said.
The BSP had won 11 seats in 1998 which came down to 2 in 2003. It improved its tally to 7 in 2008 and came down to four in the last Assembly polls in 2013.
“The Dalits of Madhya Pradesh have realised that the BSP will never be in a position to form government in MP….despite that we told the BSP that you take 10-15 seats…you won four seats last time. Take 10-11 more….They were demanding 50 seats. Jin ki haisiyat 3-4 seat ki bi nahin hain, wo pachaas maange tho kaise de de…that is not possible…if they want to fight alone they can…we are not much bothered,” he said.
He said the Congress, keeping in view the “national politics and larger interest”, wanted an understanding and alliance with non-NDA parties. “The effort of the Congress and its leadership was in that direction. If a grand alliance could be stitched together on the basis of some practical give-and-take…even if that did not have much significance in state-level politics….but it would have played a bigger role at the national level…We were trying to stitch something of this sort.”
The BSP was fancying its chances in the Gwalior-Chambal belt this time where the impact of the April 2 bandh given by Dalit organisations against the alleged dilution of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act was felt the most. There were five seats in the region where the BSP finished second in 2013.
With upper castes taking to the streets in protest against the amendment to the SC/ST Act, the BSP was also factoring that it could benefit from the polarisation of votes on the other side of the spectrum. In the 230-member Assembly, 35 seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes.
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State Congress chief Kamal Nath said the party wanted an alliance with the BSP to ensure consolidation of the secular votes but it also had a plan B to go alone.
Mayawati Wednesday said her party will contest the polls in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh on its own. Calling the Congress “arrogant” with a “casteist and communal mindset”, she said people had not forgiven the Congress for their “corrupt government”.
BJP Lok Sabha member from Bhopal Alok Sanjar said the alliance between Congress and the BSP would have affected the BJP in some places. He added that the BJP is going into the election on the development plank and would perform well irrespective of the alliance between other parties.
Manoj C G currently serves as the Chief of National Political Bureau at The Indian Express. A veteran journalist with a career spanning nearly two decades, he plays a pivotal role in shaping the publication's coverage of India's political landscape.
Experience & Career: Manoj has built a robust career in political journalism, marked by a transition from wire service reporting to in-depth newspaper analysis.
The Indian Express (2008 – Present): He joined the organization in 2008 and has risen to lead the National Political Bureau, overseeing key political coverage.
Press Trust of India (PTI): Prior to his tenure at The Indian Express, Manoj worked with India’s premier news agency, PTI, honing his skills in breaking news and accurate reporting.
Expertise & Focus Areas: As a seasoned political observer, Manoj focuses on the nuances of governance and party dynamics.
National Politics: extensive reporting on the central government, parliamentary affairs, and national elections.
Political Strategy: Deep analysis of party structures, coalition politics, and the shifting ideologies within the Indian political spectrum.
Bureau Leadership: directing a team of reporters to cover the most critical developments in the nation's capital.
Authoritativeness & Trust: Manoj’s authoritativeness is grounded in his nearly 20 years of field experience and his leadership role at a legacy newspaper. His long-standing association with The Indian Express underscores a reputation for consistency, editorial integrity, and rigorous reporting standards required of a Bureau Chief.
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4 min read
The BSP had won 11 seats in 1998 which came down to 2 in 2003. It improved its tally to 7 in 2008 and came down to four in the last Assembly polls in 2013.
