All eyes on crucial Maya rally today

Political parties, including those in the government as well as in the opposition, will be keeping a close eye on Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati’s rally here on Tuesday during which she is likely to announce her decision the party’s future relationship with the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre.

Although senior BSP leaders here remained tight-lipped on Mayawati’s possible decision, sources in the party said the support to the UPA would continue though with some strings attached.

Lakhs of BSP supporters and workers from across the country are likely to take part in the rally to mark the sixth death anniversary of BSP founder Kanshi Ram.

The entire state capital has been decorated with the blue BSP flags and huge cutouts of Mayawati, Kanshi Ram and other Dalit icons. BSP workers have started arriving here since Sunday evening.

That Mayawati does not want to leave any stone unturned in ensuring a huge turn out at the rally was evident from the fact that several senior party leaders had been entrusted with the responsibility of mobilising people from different parts of the state.

The party has booked 10 special trains to ferry supporters from different parts of the country. Railways has made special arrangements to make sure that the ordinary passengers did not face any difficulty owing to the huge rush at the station.

“Behenji will spell out the future course of action for the party cadres and also announce whether her party’s support to the UPA government will continue,” said a senior BSP leader here.

The BSP has 20 members in the Lok Sabha and its support to the beleaguered UPA government is crucial, especially in the wake of reports that the Trinamool Congress is contemplating moving a no-confidence motion against the government.

Withdrawal of support by Mayawati would make the UPA government more vulnerable and increase its dependence on BSP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav.Mayawati  is likely to take her opposition to what she has termed “anti-people” policies of the Central government to the people, especially the Dalits, her core vote bank.