Bharat Bandh: BSP, RJD, LJP, RLD non-committal

The July 5 'Bharat Bandh' to protest fuel price hike is unlikely to get the support of all non-Congress non-United Progressive Alliance parties with Bahujan Samaj Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Lok Janshakti Party and Rashtriya Lok Dal so far maintaining a silence on which side of the political divide they are.

In view of the political contradictions, the ruling BSP in Uttar Pradesh is unlikely to join the bandh, while in Bihar, the RJD-LJP could stay out as the ruling National Democratic Alliance in the state supporting the bandh.

Sources in the opposition camp, who are coordinating the protest programme, said that the possibility of participation of BSP is unlikely because Samajwadi Party would not like to be seen together with it in Uttar Pradesh on the same issue.

BSP had bailed out the Central government during the opposition-sponsored cut motion in the budget session of Parliament.

In Bihar, RJD-LJP is also not enthused to the idea of joining hands with Bharatiya Janata Party and Janata Dal-United as the combine does not want to be seen on the same page with the ruling alliance.

"We have already declared a separate bandh programme in the state on July 10," said LJP secretary general Abdul Khaliq.

RJD had also helped the UPA defeat the opposition cut motion by staging a walk out from Lok Sabha then. Both RJD and BSP are supporting the government from outside.

While Samajwadi Party is supporting the government from outside, it has decided to join the opposition sponsored 'Bharat Bandh' apparently due to the political dynamics of Uttar Pradesh, where a revived Congress is striving to come to power in the 2012 elections.

The party on Thursday claimed that the hike in fuel prices has brought "warmth" in opposition ties like the one before the imposition of Emergency in the 70s.

"If the government continues to follow anti-people policies, the opposition may unite once again," SP spokesperson Mohan Singh said noting that "a full-fledged opposition unity is still a far cry."

Ajit Singh's RLD has also not revealed its cards so far but the party has been supportive of the Congress in Rajya Sabha elections from Uttar Pradesh last month paving the way for the victory of former Union Minister Satish Sharma, a known loyalist of the Gandhi family.

There had also been speculation that the party was trying to strike a deal with the Congress ahead of the UP assembly election.