SP, BSP forced to help Centre

The urgency for Ms Mayawati to be on the side of the UPA is more apparent, as she made her intention clear to vote for the government in the Rajya Sabha on the motion against FDI in multi-brand retail. BSP functionaries are of the view that Ms Mayawati, after having lost the UP Assembly elections to the SP, has no option but to align with the Congress. “The CBI cases related to the Taj heritage corridor and disproportionate assets are pending in the high court and the Supreme Court respectively. The ongoing CBI probe into the National Rural Health Mission scam in UP during her rule is more troublesome for her as some of her party members have already been sent to jail. Therefore, Ms Mayawati’s coming to the rescue of the UPA government is on expected lines,” a senior BSP functionary said. Even Samajwadi chief Mulayam Singh Yadav is said to have similar compulsions, sources said. The UPA goverment, in a bid to draw SP closer, has apparently been generous in releasing funds for social sector schemes for UP, including the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna and the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. Mr Yadav needs a cooperative Central government to fulfil his ambitious manifesto, which will be crucial in the next polls.