Uttarakhand trust vote: BSP's Mayawati saves the day for Congress

NEW DELHI/DEHRADUN: The BSP kept the BJP and the Congress on tenterhooks through Monday and till late night before party senior Naseemuddin Siddiqui left with the Dalit outfit's two MLAs for Dehradun. The instructions were to support CM Harish Rawat.
At various times, the BSP indicated it might remain neutral in the vote or even support the BJP against the ruling dispensation before party chief Mayawati declared on Tuesday morning, "BSP has always opposed communal forces."
Sources in the BJP said negotiations with the BSP failed to fructify and this sealed the fate of the vote."The two BSP MLAs were crucial once the nine Congress rebel MLAs nine Congress were disqualified," a BJP neta said. The BSP decision seems to have been grounded in the calculation that going with the BJP would give the rival SP a powerful handle to attack Mayawati as the two parties gear up for next year's UP assembly election. To be seen to have aided the possible installation of a BJP-led government could have serious political consequences.
BSP sources added the move to support the Congress was a one-off decision and would have no bearing on the UP elections. It'd be premature to presume the two parties could have an election pact on the basis of the Uttarakhand vote.
The BSP's decision meant the six-MLA PDF stayed together and voted for the Congress, putting paid to the BJP's attempts to wean away more MLAs from Rawat. The BJP seemed to have been handicapped by its inability to offer seats in the next assembly elections to would-be defectors as it has to accommodate the nine Congress rebels.
After the vote, BSP MLA from Jhabrera in Haridwar, Haridas, said: "We were with the Congress and continue to and continue to support the party." Sarwat An sari, BSP law maker from Manglaur, added: "The decision was taken by the party chief."
Mantri Prasad Naithani, who heads the six-member PDF, confirmed that the group's alliance with the Congress remained intact. "PDF remains united in its support to the Congress and Rawat. All six PDF members backed the Congress," said Naithani, an Independent MLA from Devprayag. Another Independent MLA, Harish Chandra Durgapal, representing Lalkuan constituency, exulted: "Truth has won".
After the vote, Rawat expressed gratitude to those who voted for his government with a special mention of thanks to Mayawati.