It’s a sister act that will be hard to follow for a while—Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and BSP president Mayawati was a picture of courtesy and decorum when she handed the privilege to Congress president Sonia Gandhi to announce the name of the UPA’s presidential candidate in the coming polls.

Addressing a press conference in the Capital today, after her two-hour closeted dinner appointment with Sonia last night, Mayawati revealed, “The Congress president came over last night for dinner and we had a long conversation on the candidate for the presidential polls. We discussed some names, and agreed on one person. But I will not reveal my cards, it is better if she does it.”

It must have come as a relief to Sonia and the Congress, as the BSP’s 58,000 votes will certainly give them an edge over the NDA candidate. Mayawati went even further when she pledged her unconditional support to the Congress candidate. “We have not asked for any conditions nor have we made any claims. There is no question of any demand for the Vice-President’s post,” she said in answer to a question. She dismissed the possibility of supporting the BJP’s Bhairon Singh Shekawat, even as an “Independent” candidate. “The question does not arise at all,” she shot back, “communal forces must never get a boost, their nominee cannot succeed.”

Maya said she took time to decide because this time, the BSP plays a decisive role in the presidential process. “It is the reason why I have kept my cards close to my chest. The BSP is also a democratic party, I had to consult my MPs and MLAs before I came to a decision,” she said.

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