Happy b146;day, let146;s be friends: BJP to Maya

Saffron party8217;s gift to Dalit leader whose party8217;s symbol is the elephant, a Ganesha idol to remove obstacles

Keeping the options open for the BJP should the post-poll scenario in Uttar Pradesh throw up multiple equations, party vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi met BSP leader Mayawati on Monday, using the latter8217;s birthday celebrations to send the message that the doors would be open for a dialogue if the situation so warranted.

The choice of Naqvi to felicitate the BSP supremo on Monday was based on his good personal equation with her. Besides, he is also chief of the BJP8217;s recently constituted Central Election Management and Coordination Committee. If anything was to be read into it, Naqvi carried along as gift an an idol of Lord Ganesha, the god who removes all obstacles.

Shortly after his meeting with Mayawati, Naqvi met BJP president Rajnath Singh and is said to have given him details of the interaction with the BSP leader.

While BJP leaders officially claimed that Naqvi8217;s meeting with Mayawati was only about maintaining cordial relations and etiquette, sources said that 8220;political issues8221; were indeed discussed at the meeting. Both parties are on the same side demanding President8217;s rule in the state. However, the BJP sources said Monday8217;s discussions between the two leaders were not about any poll alliance.

The BJP has recently said that it would go it alone in the Uttar Pradesh polls, which is seen as a prestige election for the party in preparing the ground for the 2009 general elections. The party believes it is in these elections that its stand on national issues will be tested. Moving in that direction, the BJP has also drawn up the ground rules for choosing candidates and said no one with a criminal record will be considered for nominations.

The BJP8217;s optimism about the future stems from its good showing in the mayoral elections and the success of its 8216;Parivartan rally8217; in Lucknow on December 24, soon after the conclusion of its national council meeting in the city. As a top BJP leader said, 8220;We are on a strong wicket now in the state and are aiming to come to power on our own strength based on the hard work put in by our cadres so far. We are not fighting for the bronze here.8221;