With early trends showing the Bahujan Samaj Party surging ahead in Uttar Pradesh, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday chose to keep its cards close to the chest on the issue of joining hands with Mayawati's party to form the next government.
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"We had a coalition with the BSP three times. We have said we are not supporting or seeking support [from BSP]. Unless the situation is clear, we cannot change our stand," BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekar said.
He said BJP leaders will meet after all the results are out to discuss the situation.
To a question on whether the BJP was ready to sit in the opposition, he parried a direct reply, saying in a triangular contest it was difficult to say who would emerge as a clear winner.
Javadekar described the elections as a vote against the Mulayam Singh Yadav government, but said the people chose either the BSP or the BJP to ventilate their anger against the Samajwadi Party.
Asked whether the UP election results would have a bearing on national politics, he said it would definitely have ramifications at the Centre.
BJP vice president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the verdict was against the SP and the Congress-led government at the Centre. "The verdict is certainly not for President's rule," he said.