BSP will continue outside support to Madhya Pradesh government, says Mayawati

In a big relief to Kamla Nath-led Congress government in Madhya Pradesh, Bahujan Samaj Party on Wednesday said it will continue to provide outside support to the state government. BSP vice-president Ramji Gautam said that the national president of the party has decided to continue supporting the Congress government in Madhya Pradesh to “prevent communal and casteist forces”.

"We extended outside support to the Congress government to prevent communal and casteist forces from taking over, and a decision to continue supporting it has been taken at the national president's level," BSP vice-president Ramji Gautam said.

The announcement from the BSP has come as a much-needed relief for the Kamal Nath government after Congress party’s dismal performance in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections in the state. The Grand Old Party could only manage to win a single seat in the state. Of the total 29 seats in the state, the BJP had bagged 28.

Gautam also made it clear that the support the BSP was providing was outside and the party will not accept any post in the government. “The stand of our party chief, Mayawati, has always been clear: We will support the government in Madhya Pradesh from outside and not accept any post in the government," the BSP vice-president said.

Earlier during the campaigning for the general elections, Mayawati had accused the state government of intimidating BSP candidates and threatened to pull back its support. The BSP’s chief decision to continue support to also assumes significance in wake of BJP’s alleged efforts to bring down the Kamal Nath government.

Recently, BSP legislator Rambai Thakur had claimed that she was offered Rs 50 crore by the BJP to bring down the Madhya Pradesh government. "But I am not going to be influenced by such offers. I stand with Dada (Kamal Nath)," Thakur had said.

In the 230-member Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly, the Congress has 114 seats. After emerging as the single largest party, the Congress formed the government with the support of two BSP MLAs, one Samajwadi Party legislator and four independents.