Speculation is rife in political circles that BSP supremo Mayawati is likely to be sent to the Rajya Sabha from Bihar with the support of the RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav.


The move will shore up efforts to form a united opposition of non-BJP parties ahead of the 2019 general elections. With Lalu's RJD, the largest party in the Bihar Assembly, followed by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's JD-U, Mayawati will be a showcase of non-BJP opposition unity. "Mayawati has approached Lalu through a reliable man known to both to give her a Rajya Sabha seat from Bihar. Lalu has also agreed to help her,' a RJD leader close to Lalu said in Patna.


Mayawati is fully aware that after her humiliating defeat in the recently concluded Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, she has neither the numbers with her, nor any support, to win another term in the Rajya Sabha. Her term will end soon.


If Lalu does not help her, Mayawati will not be elected a member of the Rajya Sabha. According to RJD leaders, Lalu will send a strong political message by helping Mayawati, a Dalit leader, to the Rajya Sabha. ' Lalu will not miss this opportunity use the Mayawati case as an example of a united Opposition and help tap the Dalit vote bank,' said a source.


If Mayawati does get a RS seat from Bihar, she will join an eminent list of parliamentarians like veteran socialist J B Kriplani, Madhu Limaye, George Fernandes, Sharad Yadav, all outsiders ,who were elected to the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha from Bihar.


-- MI Khan/Rediff.com in Patna