LUCKNOW: BSP chief Mayawati’s prospective allies in UP, SP and Congress, denied that her move to tie up with Ajit Jogi’s outfit in Chhattisgarh will derail the ‘mahagathbandhan’ in the state for the Lok Sabha polls even as another ally, RLD, backed her as a “potential PM candidate”.Senior Congress leaders refused to accept Mayawati’s move as a snub but admitted that she had pushed them to rethink their strategy for UP.Congress said it was keeping all options open, saying the party is very much open to the idea of Bhim Army's inclusion in western UP, which is otherwise a BSP stronghold.“We have already planned more than 65 rallies and public addresses in UP which we began in Moradabad ,” said UPCC chief Raj Babbar Mayawati's move has showed no immediate signs of anxiety in the SP camp. “What happened in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh was between Congress and BSP and is unlikely to have any bearing on the proposed SP-BSP relations,” said SP spokesperson Udaiveer Singh.Congress admitted that they were anticipating Mayawati's move while citing her prime ministerial ambitions as the primary reason for her decision.“The bigger question at the moment is not Mayawati anymore but how to form a united anti-BJP Opposition.SP must realise that she is not a trustworthy partner anymore. She has been out of power in UP for two successive terms. We would not be shocked even if she takes up a cabinet berth in NDA,” said a senior Congress leader.Mayawati, however, found a strong backing in RLD which had won the Kairana bypoll with support from SP and BSP as well Bhim Army. “First of all, the move shows that regional parties have affinity and spirit of unity for each other when it comes to fighting BJP. Second, Mayawati ji has been a three-time UP CM. She has strong credentials to be the PM. If at all there has be to be consensus to be evolved on her candidature, that can be decided on the table. But this can be decided later,” RLD vice-president Jayant Choudhary told TOI.“I dont think at the moment BSP has deserted us. She is anti-BJP and will continue to remain so and for that we all need each other,” said Choudhary.

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