NEW DELHI: In a significant development, Mayawati, the leader of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), announced that her party would not join the newly formed Opposition alliance, Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA). Instead, the BSP will independently participate in the forthcoming Assembly elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana, scheduled to take place later this year.

Expressing her strong disapproval of the INDIA alliance, Mayawati criticized the Congress party for envisioning a return to power by aligning with casteist and capitalist-oriented parties. She emphasized that the BSP would contest the assembly elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana as a solitary entity. However, she remained open to forging alliances with regional parties in Haryana, Punjab, and other states.

Mayawati further highlighted the BSP's decision to contest the upcoming elections independently as a response to the Congress and BJP's casteist, anti-poor, and capitalist mindset. She condemned the Congress for seeking alliances with like-minded parties, as their policies fail to address the needs of Dalits and Muslims. Criticizing the BJP's tall promises and the Congress' slogan of "Garibi Hatao" (eradicate poverty), she asserted that the BSP has distanced itself from both ruling and opposition alliances.

The two-day meeting of 26 like-minded parties, held in Bengaluru, culminated in the unanimous agreement to adopt the name "Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance" (INDIA) to challenge the BJP government in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, addressing the media after the meeting, expressed satisfaction with the new alliance's name, which had received unanimous approval. The name "INDIA" was proposed by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, as revealed by Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) chief Thol Thirumavalavan.

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