Finally, It’s All Maya

On the contrary, there’s praise for her in quarters that once couldn’t stop complaining about her high-handed ways. BJP legislators and party workers can now be heard talking of Mayawati’s ‘‘ability’’ to take ‘‘instant decisions’’. ‘‘We never got such treatment in our own government. My request for an official’s transfer was immediately honoured by her,’’ says a BJP legislator.

The BJP’s central leadership has also virtually banned state leaders from making any statements against her and the coalition government. Her rakhi brother, the BJP’s Urban Development Minister Lalji Tandon promises: ‘‘In league with Mayawati, I will ensure that the fruits of development reach the man on the last rung of the social ladder.’’

The CM has replied in kind on perhaps the biggest issue of all for the BJP in Uttar Pradesh: Babri. Back in May 2001, Mayawati, then the BSP vice-president, had declared that her party would oppose the BJP government in the Assembly and in Parliament if a fresh notification for a special court in connection with the Ayodhya trial was not issued immediately. Nearly a fortnight ago, in her new role as CM, she declared she was ‘‘not in favour of issuing a fresh notification for formation of a special court’’.

This was a valuable gift from Mayawati to Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Uma Bharti and other top BJP and VHP leaders accused in the Babri demolition. A fresh notification would have meant that the case against the top BJP leaders — nullified by the High Court in February 2001 following ‘‘incorrect notification’’ — would have been re-opened. As if to register his gratefulness, Advani recently shared a podium with Mayawati and Kanshi Ram at a rally in Lucknow.

Things weren’t this hunky-dory at the beginning of the tie-up even this time. There were a number of issues on which the BJP and Mayawati openly differed, and the former more than once talked of withdrawing support. Among those who kept repeating that the BJP wouldn’t be taken for a ride by Mayawati in the state was its new UP chief, Vinay Katiyar. But now even he says: ‘‘The message has gone to the district level that she wants to run the government seriously. This government will continue and give results.’’

The Opposition, which has been waiting for the government to trip over its own contradictions, isn’t pleased. The most vehement and vociferous is, of course, Kalyan. ‘‘Delhi hamari, Uttar Pradesh tumhara. This is the approach of the BJP’s central leadership towards the BSP,’’ he says. ‘‘The Congress did the same with the DMK in Tamil Nadu during the Indira regime and since then, the Congress has not been able to make political space for itself in the state so far. The BJP is going to have a similar experience in UP. The party is already half (from 176 in 1996 to 88 MLAs in 2001) in the Assembly and the next electoral encounter will see it completely wiped out.’’

Talking about the Lucknow joint rally where Advani was a special guest and Kanshi Ram the chief guest, Kalyan adds: ‘‘The BJP is committing political harakiri by propping up the Maya-wati government, and for what reason? Based on my perceptions and political experience, I do not think the BSP will contest the next Lok Sabha elections with the BJP because it will suffer heavily.’’

The Congress is not far behind in predicting the BJP, as well as the BSP’s, demise. ‘‘Is it Mayawati’s BJP or the BJP’s Maya?’’ asks state party chief Arun Kumar Singh. He says the BJP wants to run on the BSP’s capital, but both the parties will suffer in the final count. ‘‘This is the last phase of political exposure of both the coalition partners. Mayawati has exposed herself to Muslims by not issuing a fresh notification on the Babri trial issue and also to its electorate by joining hands with the Manuwadis. And the BJP has no face to show its electorate after capitulating before Mayawati.’’

But far from alarming the ruling partners, the Opposition’s claims are only cementing BJP-BSP ties. Says Katiyar: ‘‘The SP has realised that it will be reduced to a nonentity if the BJP and the BSP tie up for the next Lok Sabha polls.’’

So, all the opponents in the BJP of a tie-up with Mayawati, including former CM Rajnath Singh and former state party chief Kalraj Mishra, are out of the scene. Mayawati is centrestage, and enjoying it.