GHAZIPUR/DELHI/LUCKNOW: The SP-BSP alliance was as good as over on Tuesday with SP chief Akhilesh Yadav announcing that his party would go solo in the bypolls in UP and form the government in the state in 2022 even as BSP chief Mayawati told newspersons that she could work in future with him if he is able to “fulfil his duties” by “reforming” his cadres.

Stressing that he would not relent to pressure tactics, Akhilesh said in Ghazipur : “Agar aaj se sabke raste alag-alag hain to uska bhi swagat, aur badhai sabko (If people have decided to go separate ways, I welcome it and wish everyone good luck).”

TOI had on Monday reported that Mayawati had not only asked her cadres to go it alone in the bypolls but also prepare for all the 403 seats in the state for the 2022 UP polls.

Mayawati, during her Delhi press meet, left a sliver of hope for the alliance by insisting that she shared a relationship of “mutual respect and affection” with Akhilesh and his wife Dimple. But in contrast, the SP chief made clear his annoyance when reporters repeatedly referred to Mayawati as ‘bua’.

Just a few weeks ago, he had indirectly promoted Mayawati as the “next PM” during the LS campaign.

On her part, the BSP chief said while she and Akhilesh enjoyed a good rapport, she could not ignore ‘ground realities’. Setting a precondition for reconsidering the alliance, she said: “Abhi permanent break-up nahin hai. If the SP chief is able to push his cadre into mission mode, we can again get back together.”

Talking of her ties with Akhilesh and Dimple, she said: “These relations have not been forged for political reasons alone, but will endure happy and sad times. I will make every effort to ensure they never snap or feel the strain.” But many in the first family of SP were not impressed with these assurances. Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav ’s younger daughter-in law Aparna took a dig at Mayawati by tweeting: “Those who reject honour and respect given to them, cannot accept defeat as well.”

Interestingly, Mayawati’s emphasis that Akhilesh’s estranged uncle Shivpal Singh Yadav damaged prospects of SP by diverting votes to BJP candidates once again brought the focus back on the impact of SP first family’s feud during LS polls. And the changing scenario may resurrect Shivpal in the party, say experts. But SP general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav refuted Mayawati’s allegation on vote transfer, saying: “BSP would not have been able to win as many seats in Purvanchal without the SP vote-bank. SP is in fact a bigger party than BSP. If we feel our support base is receding, we will take steps to rectify that.”

On the other hand, Mayawati emphasized that the failure of SP to retain its vote-bank and losing its bastions like Kannauj had forced her to go it alone in the bypolls. “When SP’s core vote did not go to it, how could they have transferred it to BSP? I cannot overlook political considerations. As evident in Lok Sabha results, the Yadav community did not support SP even in Yadav belts. Don’t know why they back-stabbed the party,” she said.

The signs of Mayawati’s annoyance with the SP cadres had started emerging during campaigning when there were instances of her rebuking them at rallies and asking them to be disciplined like their BSP counterparts. Bypolls to 11 assembly seats in UP are due as nine BJP MLAs and one each from SP and BSP have won the LS elections.



In Video: After Mayawati snub, Akhilesh Yadav says SP will also contest UP bypolls alone