Continuing her ongoing feud with Rahul Gandhi, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Friday criticized the Congress for acting as the “B team” of the BJP during the recent Delhi Assembly elections, which she believes contributed to the BJP’s victory in the capital.
Her comments came after Rahul Gandhi claimed on Thursday that the BJP would not have won the 2024 Lok Sabha elections if Mayawati had joined the INDIA bloc. In response, Mayawati took to X (formerly Twitter) and wrote, “It’s widely discussed that Congress acted as the BJP’s B team in the Delhi Assembly elections, helping the BJP secure power. Otherwise, Congress’ performance would not have been so poor, with most of its candidates failing to even secure their deposit.”
Mayawati also took a swipe at Rahul Gandhi, advising him to focus on introspection instead of blaming others. “It would be better if Mr. Rahul Gandhi, the supreme leader of the Congress, reflects on his own party’s actions before pointing fingers at others, especially at the BSP chief. This is my advice to him,” she wrote.
The BSP leader also issued a warning to the newly-formed BJP government in Delhi, urging them to fulfill their election promises or risk facing a fate similar to that of Congress. “The BJP government in Delhi now faces the challenge of delivering on its promises, particularly those concerning public welfare and development. If they fail to do so, the party may face a downfall similar to Congress in the future,” Mayawati said in her post.
Rahul Gandhi, speaking to students in Raebareli on Thursday, had expressed disappointment that Mayawati was not contesting elections alongside Congress in the fight against the BJP. “We wanted Behenji to fight elections with us against the BJP. However, for some reason, Mayawati Ji isn’t contesting, which is disappointing. If all three parties come together, the BJP would never win,” he said, adding that the doors of the INDIA Alliance are always open for her.
In a rebuttal, Mayawati accused the Congress of double standards. In a post on X, she wrote, “In states where Congress is strong or in power, they display animosity and a casteist attitude toward the BSP and its supporters. But in Uttar Pradesh, where Congress is weak, they talk about an alliance with BSP. If this is not the double standard of the Congress, then what is it?” She further pointed out that whenever the BSP has allied with “casteist parties” like Congress in Uttar Pradesh and other states, their votes have transferred to those parties, but the reverse has never happened.
Mayawati’s remarks highlight the ongoing tension between the BSP and Congress, with both parties having contrasting approaches to alliances. While Congress and the Samajwadi Party were part of the INDIA alliance for the 2024 elections, the BSP chose to go solo.