UPA tally jumps to 315 as BSP, SP, some others extend support

UPA's tally in the new Lok Sabha soared by 54 on Tuesday to reach 315 mark, far above the magic figure of 272, as it received unexpected bonus of support from BSP and SP besides some other parties and independents. BSP and SP, which fought elections against Congress in UP and elsewhere, pledged their support saying that they want to strengthen secular forces and to keep BJP out.

UPA's tally in the new Lok Sabha soared by 54 on Tuesday to reach 315 mark, far above the magic figure of 272, as it received unexpected bonus of support from BSP and SP besides some other parties and independents.

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BSP and SP, the two bitter rivals in Uttar Pradesh which fought elections against Congress in UP and elsewhere, pledged their support saying that they want to strengthen secular forces and to keep BJP out.

SP has 23 and BSP 21 members in the House in which the UPA coalition has secured 261 seats on its own.

Besides these two parties, RJD with four MPs and JD(S) with three MPs also conveyed their support to Congress-led UPA. Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik), whose lone member Babulal Marandi, a former BJP leader, was elected also extended its support to UPA.

Ghulam Hassan Khan, who won the elections from Ladakh as an Independent, too pledged his support along with Sadashiv Ram Mandalik, an Independent from Maharashtra.

First, BSP supremo Mayawati announced her party's support at the start of a meeting with her party leaders, saying Prime Minister Manmohan Singh addressed her as "younger sister" and urged her to adopt a positive attitude towards formation of UPA government to strengthen secular forces.

She said BSP's National Executive and Parliamentary Board, which met this morning, took the decision on giving unconditional support to the government from outside.