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Sharat Pradhan in Lucknow
In a sudden development, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Rajnath Singh and state BJP chief Kalraj Misra took off by a state plane for New Delhi.
They left Lucknow around 8.15 pm. BSP leader Mayawati had proceeded about four hours earlier, while SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav is already camping in the capital.
A BJP spokesman described the Delhi visit as 'routine' undertaken with the idea of apprising the party's central leadership of the reasons behind the ruling party's debacle.
However, speculation was rife in all political circles that the visit had got to do something about a tie-up between BSP and the BJP.
According to a source, desperate to prevent the return of the Samajwadi Party, Mayawati had sent feelers to the BJP leadership for a strategic alliance.
"She was even understood to have offered her party's support to the Vajpayee government at the Centre as a quid pro quo," he claimed.
