With attack on PM, Mayawati's signals to opposition

With an all-out attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BSP supremo Mayawati on Monday sent signals of support to the anti-BJP alliance taking shape to dislodge the NDA after the Lok Sabha results are out.

Mayawati launched a scathing personal attack on Modi accusing him of “leaving his own wife for politics”. “What does the Prime Minister know about the honour of women when he himself let down his own wife,” the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister said.

She was responding to Modi's stinging criticism of her daring the BSP to withdraw support to the Congress-led Rajasthan government following the incident of gang rape in Alwar which was allegedly hushed up by the state administration.

Congress, which is keen to take a pole position in the post-election scenario, has already opened up communication channels with Mayawati for help in the government formation exercise after the declaration of Lok Sabha election results on May 23.

A senior Congress leader has reached out to the BSP supremo to ensure her presence at the meeting of opposition leaders, most likely after the declaration of results, to discuss the post-poll scenario and move for government formation if the BJP-led NDA fails to get the numbers.

Internal surveys carried out by political parties point towards a hung Parliament with BJP emerging as the single largest party. A senior Congress leader claimed that the outcome will be a close call between the NDA and the non-NDA parties and some swift moves may be required by the competing alliances to ensure that they have the numbers.

On Monday, Congress refrained from commenting on Mayawati's remarks against the Prime Minister and instead chose to target Modi for his technology-related gaffes in media interviews.

“I would not like to comment on remarks made by her. This election is turning out to be very interesting. The Prime Minister has been entertaining us by his talk about radars and clouds,” Congress spokesman Pawan Khera told reporters here.