New Delhi: She may not need a helping hand to form her government but she is keenly aware that she holds the key to the top job in Raisina Hills.
Whoever will be the next President must have some support from the new queen of Uttar Pradesh, Mayawati.
The differentiating ballots are with her 19 MPs and 207 MLAs and the Congress knows that very well.
“Mayawati has always been our supporter so we don’t face any problem,” said Congress MP Rajiv Shukla.
UP makes the largest contribution to the electoral college and that’s where Mayawati assumes significance. She holds the key to the gates of Rashtrapati Bhawan.
While the Left doesn't want to give President A P J Abdul Kalam a second term, names floating now are those of Lok Sabha Speaker, Somnath Chatterjee, External Affairs Minister, Pranab Mukherjee, Power Minister, Sushil Kumar Shinde and Karan Singh.
Shinde surges ahead of others after the UP polls because of his Dalit background. Mayawati, leading a huge Dalit electorate cannot ignore Shinde's claims.
The Left, meanwhile, is meeting next week to choose its own nominee. “We have to sit and decide on the most acceptable and consensus candidate,” said Senior Politburo member of CPI-M, Sitaram Yechury.
While figures might give UPA the advantage, Mayawati will have to be consulted. And the BJP is aware that she may not agree and put her foot down.
“There are a lot of probables. So winning or losing one election may not make that much of a difference,” said BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad.
It's Maya's choice that will prevail in the end and the road to Rashtrapati Bhavan may have to go through Lucknow this year.
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