After JD (U) rider, Cong-BSP pact buzz appears to fizzle out in Uttar Pradesh

After briefly kindling interest, the buzz about Bahujan Samaj Party ’s possible entry into INDIA alliance appears to be fizzling out with Janata Dal, a key player of the opposition coterie, making it clear that before probing any such pact, the Congress should take the Samajwadi Party, the leading opposition in Uttar Pradesh, into confidence. Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai’s appeal to BSP chief Mayawati to join the Congress-led opposition alliance sparked buzz about BSP-Congress pact but JD has made it clear that no pact is possible without taking Samajwadi Party on board Approached by HT to check if efforts to bring BSP chief Mayawati to reconsider her stance of staying neutral in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls were bearing fruit, especially after UP Congress’s state chief Ajay Rai’s appeal to her to consider an alliance, Tyagi said, “All are welcome but not at the cost of antagonising the existing parties already committed to fighting against the BJP in 2024 Lok Sabha polls.” “It is strange that the Congress appears to be interested in an alliance with the BSP but is unwilling to take the SP in confidence on the subject. Political experts believe that with the SP reiterating their stand of not being part of any alliance of which the BSP is a part, the buzz that gained ground after UP Congress chief Ajay Rai’s appeal to Mayawati and its subsequent endorsement by BSP MP Shyam Yadav has virtually fizzled out. Unless there is sudden change in script, not many are hopeful of BSP-Congress pact and BSP’s entry in the larger opposition alliance,” said political expert Irshad Ilmi.