In a heartening development for the Congress in Uttarakhand, the three MLAs of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) have offered “unconditional support” to help the party form the next government in the state. “On the direction of Mayawati Ji, our party has decided to give full support to the Congress," state BSP president Surajmal said on Sunday.

The Congress, with 32 MLAs in the 70-member assembly received the support of three Independents and the lone Uttarakhand Kranti Dal member to reach the magic figure of 36. Now, with the BSP’s support, it will have 39 MLAs on its side, leaving the BJP with 31.

The Congress has already staked claim to form the government.

Even as uncertainty prevailed on who would head the Congress-led government due to the emergence of several claimants, the party decided that the next CM would be a legislator, not an MP.

Sources said the central leadership ruled MPs Harish Rawat, Satpal Maharaj and Vijay Bahuguna out of the race as the party was not in favour of disturbing its present strength either in the Lok Sabha or in the state assembly.