BSP may join SP and Left front in Rajasthan, in fresh setback for Congress

India वोट Kar | September 22, 2018

The Bahujan Samaj Party led by Mayawati may team up with the Communist Party of India and the Samajwadi Party in a third front against both the BJP and the Congress in the Rajasthan Assembly election, according to CPI national secretary Atul Kumar Anjan, the party’s in-charge for the state. Such a move would be the third blow to opposition unity ahead of next year’s general election.

Moves in three states

On Thursday Mayawati announced an alliance in Chhattisgarh with Congress rebel Ajit Jogi, after which the Congress said it would contest alone there. In Madhya Pradesh she declared a first list of 22 candidates on her own.

Anjan said the Left parties, the JD(S) and the SP had formed a third front and would welcome the BSP, with which they were in touch, though he added that the BSP was also talking to the Congress about seats. Unlike in Chhattisgarh, the Congress was not keen to accommodate the BSP in Rajasthan. State Congress chief Sachin Pilot had publicly opposed any alliance, as the party feels confident in a state that has tended to alternate between the BJP and the Congress.

BSP sources said Mayawati was still in contact with the Congress leadership and that an alliance was not ruled out, suggesting the talks with the Left and SP could be a bargaining move. A senior BSP functionary said the party was in touch with both sides but was also seriously considering going alone. In 2013 the BSP contested 199 seats in Rajasthan, winning 3 with around 5 percent of the vote.

Wider picture

In Haryana the BSP already has an understanding with Abhay Chautala’s Indian National Lok Dal. In Uttar Pradesh, both the SP and the BSP have been reluctant to give the Congress a share of seats. Analysts said these developments show that building a broad anti-BJP alliance for 2019 will not be easy for the Congress, and that a strong Congress result in the Assembly polls would strengthen its hand in seat talks.

What happened next

In Rajasthan the Congress won 99 of the 199 seats that voted on 7 December 2018 and Ashok Gehlot became Chief Minister. In Madhya Pradesh the Congress won 114 seats and the BSP 2, and in Chhattisgarh the Congress won 68 while Janta Congress Chhattisgarh won 5.

See also: Bahujan Samaj Party and Samajwadi Party.

Originally published on 22 September 2018. Rewritten on 9 October 2026.