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| Congress is in a practical dilemma | | BJP considers major change in strategy | | BL KAK
NEW DELHI, MARCH 7
Major political parties, national and regional, are getting ready for a big fight in Uttar Pradesh (UP). Even as the country's oldest political formation, better known as Congress party, finds itself in a practical dilemma in view of the groupism within the party, 10 Janpath, which is the abode of Sonia Gandhi, has sent out a signal informing the party cadres in and outside UP about the high command's readiness for the upcoming battle of the ballot.
At the same time, visibly excited and encouraged by its success in Punjab and Uttarakhand, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is contemplating a major change in its plan for poll-bound Uttar Pradesh. Realising that it has real chances of emerging victorious, the party has devised a two-pronged strategy under which it is open to both pre and post-poll alliances.
The BJP has quietly gone back on its earlier resolve to contest Uttar Pradesh elections on its own by resolving to go to polls under the umbrella of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The decision has paid off instantly. Janata Dal (United) which was exploring an alliance with smaller parties has not only joined hands with it but also has brought along the Apna Dal under the NDA fold.
Although BJP leaders are not willing to come on record about their plan for post-poll alliance, it is understood that the party is keeping the option of joining hands with the ruling Samajwadi Party open in case the State elects a hung Assembly once again. Softening of stand towards the Samajwadi Party was visible with the BJP supporting the besieged UP Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav's demand to have his assets probed by a retired Supreme Court judge instead of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The Supreme Court has asked the CBI to probe his assets and report to the Union government based on a petition filed by an activist of the Congress party. Senior central leaders of the BJP will discuss in Lucknow election modalities with its State unit, particularly selection of candidates and seat adjustment with NDA allies.
A central office-bearer of the BJP said here before leaving for Lucknow: "While we are going to polls convinced that we have a real chance of coming to power on our own, we have to be ready with an alternative plan as well. The post-poll tie-up is possible only with the Samajwadi Party or the BSP (Bahujan Samaj Party). Opinions are divided but the majority view is that the Samajwadi Party is more reliable than the BSP".
The officer said that the party's Chief Ministerial candidate, Kalyan Singh, is more comfortable about a tie-up with the Samajwadi Party than BSP.
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