Mayawati claims BSP would head next Indian Government

The Chief of the National Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Mayawati, also a key ally of the Indian government, on Thursday (18 April) predicted that the BSP would head the next federal government after national polls in 2014.

Mayawati added the she would impose Presidential rule in the Northern Uttar Pradesh after dismissing the provincial government.

“When, we form a government at the centre, the Governor and the federal government will work as per our instructions. We will impose president rule in Uttar Pradesh and I will not let you wait for four years,” said Mayawati in Northern Lucknow city.

The regional Samajwadi Party, which also extends outside support to the federal government, rules Uttar Pradesh after unseating the BSP government last year. Both parties are based in India’s largest state.

The BSP chief urged her supporters to build bridges with other communities and ensure that maximum candidates emerge victorious. “Lok Sabha (lower house of parliament) election, which will be held at the end of this year, if you develop brotherhood with other communities like in 2007 elections. If you can make most of the candidates victorious in Uttar Pradesh, which has 80 seats, I want to tell you that we will be the balance of power at the centre on the basis of our performance in Uttar Pradesh,” she added.

The federal government led by the Congress Party is heavily dependent on the BSP and the SP after another ally the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) pulled out of the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) coalition over Sri Lanka war crimes allegations.