Mayawati gives UPA breather, keeps withdrawal of outside support by BSP pending

Keeping up the suspense over BSP continuing outside support to the UPA government, Mayawati on Wednesday deferred a decision on the issue even as she asked party cadres to be ready for snap polls.

Mayawati, who had said that a decision on continuing support will be taken today, said the BSP National Executive and the Parliamentary Board have left it to her to take a final call on it.

"But there will be no delay. The decision will be taken soon and conveyed to you," she told reporters after the meeting.

Mayawati said it was now her "responsibility" to take a decision on the issue keeping in mind the interests of the people as well as her party's ideology.

Her putting off a decision is being seen as a pressure tactic on the Centre as it comes a day after the Supreme Court said the CBI was at liberty to probe a disproportionate assets case against her.

BSP's continuing its support to the Government may hinge on how the CBI proceeds after the court's nod.

UPA, whose numbers have dwindled in the Lok Sabha with the exit of Trinamool Congress, is banking on the support of BSP, which has 21 MPs, and Samajwadi Party that has 22 MPs.

"Keeping in mind the state of instability at the Centre, mid-term polls can take place any time. Our party has to prepare on a war-footing. We want to emerge as a balance of power," she said.

Reacting cautiously, Congress said she was entitled to take any decision and if there were any differences as far as Government's policies were concerned, efforts would be made to resolve them.

"I would only appeal to our supporting parties that if there are any differences as far as policies are concerned, we will try to convince them... and resolve them," Union minister and party leader Rajiv Shukla said.

... contd.

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