Uttarakhand: In touch with Cong, BJP, says BSP

Dehradun: Giving a new twist to the race for power in Uttarakhand, the BSP, whose three MLAs can tilt the balance, on Thursday night said it was in touch with both Congress and BJP as the two rival contenders for power claimed they will form the next government.

"We are in touch with both the BJP and the Congress," said state BSP President Surajmal.

He maintained the party would take a decision on the issue of extending support only after consultations with BSP supremo Mayawati.

Both Congress and BJP are wooing BSP and three independent MLAs in order to muster the majority in the 70-member assembly following a fractured electoral mandate. Regional outfit Uttarakhand Kranti Dal has one MLA.

Congress got 32 seats and BJP 31 with both falling short of the magic figure of 36.

Surajmal denied a Congress' claim that BSP has already extended its support to its bid to form government.

"Congress is in the habit of spreading such rumours," he said, adding "whatever direction comes from Mayawatiji, we will follow".

Congress said it would form the government in the hill state after the new CLP leader is chosen by the party high command.

"Let the new leader be chosen by the party high command, thereafter we will form government also," said state PCC chief Yashpal Arya, a day after Congress President Sonia Gandhi was authorised to choose the new leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP).

Aryna and senior BJP leader Bhagat Singh Koshiyari understood to have got in touch with Sarbat Karim Ansari, a BSP MLA from Mangalore.

The Congress, which is moving close to form new government, also claimed it has mustered the required numbers for the same.

"We have all the numbers which are enough to form new government," Arya told reporters here.

The BJP too claimed it will form the next government and continue to be in power.

"We will play Holi in Uttarakhand...Congress will not be able to form government there," BJP general secretary Ananth Kumar told reporters in New Delhi.

Arya said a group of observers is also being sent by the party high command to Dehradun to take views of the newly elected MLAs.

In the last night meeting of the CLP, Congress General Secretary and in-charge of party affairs in the state, Chaudhary Berendra Singh also held separate talks with a host of newly elected party MLAs in this regard, party sources said.

Arya said once the CLP's new leader is announced, the party would stake claim before Governor Margaret Alva for the formation of the new government.