Seeking to play it safe, the Congress today turned down the SP offer to join the UP government in tomorrow’s Cabinet expansion and decided instead to support from outside.At the same time, under pressure from the state leadership to join the government, Congress leaders stressed that this was a decision ‘‘for the time being’’.The Congress is also aware Mulayam Singh may want its support but does not actually need it. Secondly, the party is hoping that in the Assembly elections in the four party-ruled states this year-end, it may be able to strike a deal with BSP which has always cut into Congress votes in Madhya Pradesh and Delhi.By indicating that it is not joining the UP Cabinet, the Congress is giving time to BSP to emerge as its ally. Thirdly, the Congress has left the decision open-ended also because it is awaiting answers from UP government on reopening of the Ayodhya case against BJP leaders and SP’s justification for keeping Kalyan Singh in the coalition. This is also in keeping with sentiments expressed at the CWC where leaders were cautious about joining the government. Senior leader Ambika Soni said: ‘‘The party has decided that for the time being the Congress will support the UP government from outside.’’
