While on the one hand, Congress is fighting BSP in Uttar Pradesh to make space for itself by weaning away dalit votes from the ruling party, the role of CBI is said to have played important role in forcing Chief Minister Mayawati to vote for the UPA during cut motion debate and subsequent voting.

It may be mentioned here that CBI had on April 6 said in Supreme Court that it had enough evidence to file charge sheet in disproportionate assets case of chief minister Mayawati. CBI has said in an affidavit filed in Supreme Court that it had enough evidence to show that she and her relatives had got illegal wealth. CBI further said that it was serious to prosecute chief minister Mayawati and her relatives on the basis of evidence to show that she and her relatives had assets exceeding their legal income. CBI affidavit had said that the Chief Minister had built up assets on the basis of gifts procured from her party workers. So much so CBI questioned as to how Mayawati's assets declared in 2003 at Rs. 1 crore could jump to Rs 50 crores in 2007.

Later Chief Minister Mayawati moved to Supreme Court saying that investigating agency was adopting double standard in disproportionate assets case which was politically motivated to harass her and it should be closed.

The political workers of both the parties as well as political observers were surprised when CBI gave relief to chief minister Mayawati and offered in Supreme Court to consider her application seeking closure of the case against her.

CPI national secretary Atul Anjan charged CBI of adopting double standard and facing credibility crisis after her handling of disproportionate assets case. While on one hand CBI claimed in Supreme Court that it had enough evidence against chief minister Mayawati and her relatives and on the other hand, it said that it was ready to consider the plea of Mayawati to close the case.

Regarding change in the attitude of leaders of both the parties, Atul Anjan said few days back on April 14, AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi was shown in Ambedkarnagar on TV attacking Bahujan Samaj Party and its leader Mayawati and flagging off Congress Sandesh Rath Yatra against the misrule of state government.

CPI leader also attacked Samajwadi party and its leader Mulayam Singh Yadav of adopting double standard regarding his party's role during cut motion. While publicly, he appeared to be fighting against central government along with left and others on the issue of price rise but inside parliament, Mulayam along with Lalu Yadav bailed out UPA government by walk out. Anjan said it was difficult to understand the politics of convenience of Mulayam and Mayawati as both of them are fighting each other in the state but they are united to support UPA government at the Centre.

The political observers opine that the recent understanding between two parties posing as main rivals is bound to have impact on the future politics of the state. Chief Minister Mayawati however was very critical of Congress and UPA government on April 26 in Lucknow at the time of making announcement of support during cut motion. She blamed wrong economic policies for rise in inflation and hike in prices of petroleum and diesel. She said that during previous hike in petroleum products UP Government had taken burden of Rs 2600 crores to give some relief to consumers in the state.

BSP supremo charged UPA government for creating conditions in the country in which farmers were committing suicide and prices of wheat, sugar and rice are rising. She also attacked UPA government for neglecting development of Uttar Pradesh and not giving Rs 80,000 crores demanded by her government from the Centre in 2007 as special package for Bundelkhand and eastern UP.

Mayawati however denied that her support to UPA government during cut motion had anything to do with change in stance of CBI regarding disproportionate assets case. Mayawati further said the case of Taj heritage corridor was launched against her by NDA not by UPA. BSP supremo said that she extended support of her party during cut motion to keep communal forces at a distance and she was already supporting UPA from outside.

Significantly enough the day BSP extended its support to UPA government on cut motion the Congress spokesman in New Delhi refrained from making any attack on Mayawati and her government.

But in Lucknow UPCC President Rita Bahuguna while receiving Congress Sandesh Chetna Yatra said UP was being ruled by mafia gangs under the protection of BSP government. She further said that a large number of BSP workers and legislators had criminal background.

But after BSP support to UPA government veteran Congress leaders said that the development had confused the party leaders and workers who were fighting the ruling party to make Mission 2012 of Rahul Gandhi to capture power on its own in UP.(IPA)