Maya tours signal early polls: Oppn

The current Assembly ends in May 2012,but the Opposition parties believe that Mayawati is thinking of an election next winter.

Chief Minister Mayawatis move of first finalising BSP candidates and then undertaking a tour of the state,has led the Opposition to conclude that she wants to advance the elections by about six months. The current Assembly ends in May 2012,but the Opposition parties believe that Mayawati is thinking of an election next winter.

Although the CM has said that the elections will be held on time,other parties believe that she wants to advance the polls due to two reasons. One,to catch them unprepared and,two,to preempt an election in March-April when power cuts begin across the state.

TheOpposition parties have also swung into action and started identifying their probable candidates. The Congress plans to select its candidates before May 31. The Samajwadi Party has conducted interviews of ticket aspirants and is waiting for the right time to announce its candidates. The BJP has sent out several teams to identify potential candidates.

Story continues below this ad

Both the Congress and the SP are also trying to woo smaller political outfits for an alliance. The haste with which the Rashtriya Lok Dal and Peace Party of India announced the formation of a confederation of smaller political outfits signals the beginning of a realignment of political forces in the state.

Congress Legislature Party leader Pramod Tiwari said that Mayawati may dissolve the Assembly in November to pave the way for early elections,as polls later than that would prove costly for her. Elections in December or January would suit the BSP because March-April are months of power shortage in the state,he said.