New Delhi: The Congress on Friday dropped enough hints that the party is prepared to extend outside support to a Mayawati-led BSP Government in Uttar Pradesh if the situation warrants.
As early trends showed that the state was heading for a hung Assembly with Mayawati's party emerging the single largest, the Congress party kept its options open on supporting the BSP.
Congress leader Kapil Sibal was among the first to congratulated Mayawati on her remarkable victory as SP leader Mulayam Singh Yadav conceded defeat in the elections. "Congratulations to Mayawati for spreading her mayajal, but she should thank Congress because the benefit our campaign went to the BSP," Sibal said.
UPCC chief Salman Khursheed said his party would decide on its post-poll stand in the key state after all the results were out and a clear picture was available. He maintained that its leadership will be open to all 'propositions'.
Kapil Sibal, who actively campaigned for the party in the state, said he would not hazard a guess. Probably, Khursheed has better information. Sibal said it would be decided at a 'higher level'.
Sibal said that the Congress Working Committee and party president, Sonia Gandhi, would take a decision. "Our target was the decimation of the Samajwadi Party and we have succeeded in it," he said.
Khursheed said if BSP got 200 seats in the 403-member Assembly, then Mayawati could form the government on her own. But if she fell short of a majority then "everybody has a role" in the formation of the next government.
He, however, said the Congress was not looking to form a government or helping any party. Rather it was interested in re-gaining its lost moorings in the state where it hoped to get a higher percentage of the votes.
Asked about Amethi MP Rahul Gandhi's role in the polls, he said the young leader showed an attitude of courage and was in Uttar Pradesh not to fight the elections, but to build the party.
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