BSP is hidden partner of Cong-SP alliance, mocks BJP

New Delhi [India], Jan. 29 (ANI): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday alleged that Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi praising former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati clearly indicates that the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) is a hidden partner of the alliance. "The way Rahul ji was praising Mayawati, I feel that BSP is also a hidden partner of this alliance," Union Minister Kalraj Mishra told ANI. He said that the Congress and Samajwadi Party have joined hands as they are aware of the fact that their defeat is certain in the assembly elections. "SP has realised that their defeat is definite in the upcoming elections. With this dampened spirit, they thought to ally with the Congress. Congress felt that their existence will fade from Uttar Pradesh and so they thought to join hands with the SP. Rahul Gandhi himself said that they are entering into an alliance to strengthen the party," he said. Holding both the parties responsible for ruining the country, Mishra said the people of Uttar Pradesh have rejected them. "They have realised that one (Congress) destroyed the country and the other (SP) destroyed the state," he said. Addressing a joint press briefing with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh earlier this afternoon, Gandhi said that he has immense respect for Mayawati despite the fact that her government made some mistakes during its rule in the state , adding that her ideology was not dangerous unlike the BJP. Uttar Pradesh will be voting for a new state assembly in a seven-phase election between February 11 and March 8. Out of the 403 assembly seats, Congress will be contesting in 105 seats and the Samajwadi Party will field its candidates in rest of the 298 seats. (ANI)