More trouble for UPA as BSP threatens to pullout support

Accusing India's Congress-led UPA government of pursuing "anti-people" decisions, key regional politician Mayawati yesterday said her Bahujan Samaj Party will decide today on whether to continue its outside support to the government.
In her first major public after BSP's debacle in the state legislature polls in Uttar Pradesh, India's biggest state, seven months back, Mayawati, like her arch rival and Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, did not expect the Manmohan Singh government to last its term till 2014 and asked her cadres to be ready for parliamentary polls earlier than scheduled in the year 2014.
"We will hold a meeting of BSP's national executive tomorrow (October 10) to reconsider whether to continue support to UPA government or not," she said addressing BSP workers at a rally in Lucknow city.
"Going by the present circumstances, it appears that Lok Sabha polls would be held early," she said.
After the withdrawal of support by its ally Trinamool Congress (19 lawmakers), a minority UPA government has been surviving on the outside support of BSP, which has 21 MPs in Lok Sabha, and Samajwadi Party with 22 MPs.
Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress withdrew support to UPA government last month protesting some major economic reforms of the government.
Mayawati attacked the UPA government's foreign and economic policies, saying its "anti-people" decisions have added to the "woes" of the people including the deprived, Dalits, minorities and farmers who are facing the brunt of rising prices, growing unemployment and corruption.
On the issue of foreign direct investment in multi-brand retail, Mayawati left the door open on her party backing it.