Chief Minister Mayawati was quite candid in admitting that in earlier elections, whenever the BSP entered into alliances with others, the party could not gain politically and the allies took advantage of the BSP's organizational base. She said that her party had learnt lessons from 1996 elections when the party entered into an alliance with the Congress in the state but could not gain politically in the number of seats. She charged that the other political parties in UP are hatching conspiracy to remove the BSP from power and the BSP's supporters, especially the dalits have to assert fully to defeat these moves.

BSP chief was especially critical of the Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi who is visiting the state regularly to strengthen the organizational base of the Congress. She termed Rahul Gandhi's interaction with dalits and his frequent night halts in Harijan bastis as “natak”. Chief Minister was also critical of the Centre's decision to appoint P.L. Punia as the Chairman of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Commission. It is worth-mentioning that Punia acted as secretary to her during her earlier tenure as the Chief Minister.

Unfolding her future plan for assembly polls, Mayawati said party would organize cadre camps all over the state from November 20 and after that party would launch state-wide agitation on price rise and anti-people policies of the UPA government. The agitation would be held in all the 402 assembly constituencies to create awareness in the people. She also announced that she would made surprise visits in all the 72 districts to monitor development programmes.

It may be mentioned here that BSP has already finalised candidates for UP assembly elections and directed them to start working in their areas.

The main rival Samajwadi Party also held meeting of state executive on same day where party supremo and national president Mulayam Singh Yadav directed party workers to start preparations for 2012 assembly polls. The party has already made extensive exercises to shortlist candidates for assembly elections for which series of interviews were held in Lucknow. Shocked by inner party squabbles, Mulayam asked his party leaders and workers to rise above petty differences to consolidate base for assembly polls.

Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav said that Mayawati government in UP and UPA government at the centre failed to check corruption which was evident from from large scale corruption in Spectrum and Commonwealth games. BSP government had resorted to terror and corruption in the state, he alleged. He also asked his party workers to fan out to villages to resolve the problems being faced by the people.

The SP supremo got state executive to welcome steps taken by the party on Ayodhya verdict to win over the Muslims who had deserted the party in last Lok Sabha polls when the party failed to get even a single Muslim to win. Samajwadi Party supremo also revoked suspension of party veteran Mohd Azam Khan who had been party's Muslim face. So much so Samajwadi Party is willing to give the key posts of Leader of the legislature party and Leader of the Opposition to Mohd Azam Khan who is all set to return to party. In order to win over the support from Muslims, Samajwadi Party also demanded implementation of Sachar Commission and Ranganath Mishra Commission recommendations.

The Congress has also started making preparations for 2012 assembly polls. The party is in a confident mood after winning 21 seats in the last Lok Sabha elections.

Much significance is being attached to party high command decision to renominate Mrs Rita Bahuguna Joshi as UPCC president. There is no doubt that Mrs Joshi is perceived as a fighter who would take on BSP supremo Mayawati politically and other rivals like BJP and SP. There is no doubt that Rita had backing of AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi who is also quite serious about revival of Congress fortune in UP.

During his recent visit to Lucknow Rahul Gandhi addressed Youth Congress workers and made it clear that they all should start preparations for next assembly polls. Rahul Gandhi who had been instrumental for success of party candidates in last Lok Sabha polls announced here that the Congress would contest assembly polls all alone. He ruled out any possibility of alliance. Much significance is being attached to the public meeting of the Congress President Sonia Gandhi in Allahabad on November 25 which is part of 125 years celebrations of Congress Party. (IPA Service)