SP-BSP alliance sans Congress is incomplete

Burying all past differences, Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) have struck alliances for the Lok Sabha elections this year. Both are the premier political parties of Uttar Pradesh (UP). Uttar Pradesh is not only the largest state but also politically most important in the country. Without winning Uttar Pradesh, no party can rule at the Centre in Delhi. It is also correct to say that the road to power in Delhi passes through Uttar Pradesh. SP and BSP had fought together in the three Lok Sabha by-polls against the BJP for three seats in the state and they won all. The ruling BJP could not retain any one of the three seats from the state. It clearly reflected that if these two leading political parties fought together, they would win most of the Lok Sabha seats from the state. They would certainly together give tough challenge to the ruling BJP in the state. BJP had won 71 Lok Sabha seats from Uttar Pradesh. It is difficult, if not, impossible to repeat its previous performance. But the SP and the BSP have committed a blunder by keeping the grand old Congress Party out of the alliance. Both SP and BSP have agreed to fight on 38: 38 Lok Sabha seats in the state, leaving two seats Raeberali of Sonia Gandhi and Amethi of Congress President Rahul Gandhi for them. They would not field their candidates in the Gandhi pocket boroughs. But by leaving the Congress party, BSP and SP have not acted according to the demand of the situation where it was necessary to keep the secular votes undivided. No political party can doubt on the secular credentials of the Congress party. So, it has large number of secular votes in Uttar Pradesh. The weakness of the Congress party in the state is only due to its organization. It is because of a strong organization in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan that it wrested power from the BJP after years in the just concluded assembly elections there. So, it is clear that the Congress party is resurging very fast. When left out of SP, BSP alliance, it has decided to fight on all 80 Lok Sabha seats from Uttar Pradesh. RLD of Chaudhary Ajit Singh has also been left out. There is possibility that Congress may ally with it in the coming Lok Sabha elections. It also must be clear for all aspirants such as Mayawati, Mulayam, Mamta, KCR and others for the post of Prime Minister that they cannot be PMs without the outside support of the Congress. Congress party is still the largest party among the opposition ones in the country. It has also shown in three assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh that it can defeat BJP if fought one on one. So, Congress may be a dark horse at present in Uttar Pradesh, but it has the guts, ability, and capability to spring a surprise in the Lok Sabha elections. There is a difference between by poll and general election. By winning three seats in by-polls together, BSP and SP must not be a delusion that the same outcome will come in general elections.