NEW DELHI, 13 June 2007 — To ensure Bahujan Samaj Party’s support in the presidential election, Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi has played the necessary political cards. On Monday evening, Sonia drove to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati’s residence in Delhi and discussed the issue with her over dinner hosted in her honor. The dinner meeting lasted two hours, during which the needed political understanding was reached between the two women: The BSP will support the candidate of the United Progressive Alliance for president.

“I held a detailed meeting with Sonia Gandhi over dinner last night at my residence here during which the issue was discussed in detail and we arrived at a consensus on the presidential nominee,” Mayawati told a news conference yesterday.

Declining to divulge the name of the candidate, Mayawati said: “You will soon come to know about it from Sonia Gandhi. I will not show my hand.

“I am sure even the media are curious to know about the BSP’s decision on the presidential candidate, because this time around, the BSP is not just one of those who matter, it’s a party playing a decisive role in the process. That’s is why I have kept my cards close to my chest.”

BSP’s support ensures 58,000 votes for the presidential candidate. There is no question of the BSP supporting an “NDA (National Democratic Alliance) and nonsecular candidate” for the post, Mayawati asserted.

“The BSP has always fought communal forces. You must be wondering why I am saying this considering that three out four times I came to power in Uttar Pradesh, it was with the help to the BJP (the Bharatiya Janata Party). I am sure you all must be talking about it in hushed tones. But let me make it clear. In those circumstances when we sought support from the BJP, the situation was different and we had the welfare of the state and the people in mind,” she said.

“Communal forces should not get any boost and their nominee should not succeed,” she said in reply to a question.

She agreed with a reporter that the party took a long time to reach a decision on the matter, but said: “Before taking any decision, the party has to take into account all democratic procedures... Anyway, you all know that I have just taken over the reins in UP and my priorities are establishing law and order in the state and reviewing the state budget.”

On whether the BSP’s support was conditional, Mayawati said: “There is neither any condition nor any claim.”

Mayawati specifically said that the dinner meeting was held in a “good atmosphere” with the two women holding identical views on most issues. Asked whether major differences cropped up over any issue, Mayawati replied: “Had there been differences, it would not have been possible to have a two-hour dinner meeting. The talks took place in a very cordial atmosphere. Sonia Gandhi put forth her views and I articulate my party’s stand and there was considerable convergence of views,” Mayawati added.

Having won over 200 seats in the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, Mayawati is well aware of the political weight her party carries. Her denial notwithstanding, political circles said Mayawati’s support for the UPA nominee is not without a price. She is looking for at least 700 billion rupees in aid from Delhi for development projects in Uttar Pradesh, sources said.