We will wait and watch, Maya says on Prez polls

After two key regional parties — ADMK and BJD — played their Presidential cards and supported NCP leader PA Sangma's candidature, BSP chief Mayawati preferred to keep her options open and said she would wait for the UPA and the NDA to announce their candidates.

After two key regional parties — ADMK and BJD — played their Presidential cards and supported NCP leader PA Sangma's candidature, BSP chief Mayawati preferred to keep her options open and said she would wait for the UPA and the NDA to announce their candidates.

“Our party is keeping an eye on all the parties on the issue of the Presidential nominee. Let us see what candidate UPA and NDA field,” Maywati said here at a press conference.

She added BSP will support the candidate who fits into her party's “line of movement”.

Samajwadi Party, another key regional player in the Presidential poll, has also adopted the policy of wait and watch as the Congress-led UPA and the BJP-led NDA are
yet to announce their candidates.

The former Uttar Pradesh CM also declined to comment if the party will support finance minister Pranab Mukherjee for the Presidential post.

“When it is not clear who is the candidate of UPA or NDA, what should I say about the merits or demerits of a particular candidate. Whichever candidate comes before us, we will see whether he suits our party's line of movement,” she added.

Mayawati also hinted that no one has so far approached her to support Sangma for the top post. When asked about the ADMK and BJD's decision to back Sangma, Mayawati remarked, she has heard about these developments only through media.

Mayawati's party has 36 MPs in parliament and commands more than 43,000 votes in the presidential poll.

‘Political vendetta’
The ex-UP chief minister cried foul over the probe orders by the new Samajwadi Party government in the state.

She alleged that the probes into work done during her tenure are out of “political vendetta”.