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BSP will decide stand during trust-vote

Bahujan Samaj Party chief Kanshiram today said his party preferred mid-term polls but declined to divulge if his party would align with the opposition or the government in a vote of confidence.

Speaking to reporters at Dr B R Ambedkar's birth anniversary celebrations, he said his party would spell out its mind in Parliament when the issue comes up.

Asked if his party wanted the government to fall, Kanshiram said the fall of the government could lead to elections.

Earlier, addressing a public meeting, Kanshiram said elections would give his party an opportunity to emerge stronger. The BSP should emerge as the ruling party by the turn of the century, he said. For this to happen, he wanted two elections, one in November and another the next year. The Congress, which had a long stint of 45 years at the helm had done nothing much and people had seen the 'ability and stability' of the BJP during its one-year rule, he remarked.

In a significant development, Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy also addressed the meeting. Later Kanshiram sought to underplay the importance of his attendance by saying, ''If someone wants to attend the birthday celebrations, he is welcome. We will be on our own and work for our growth,'' he said.

Earlier in the day, the Bahujan Samaj Party chose to remain non-committal on the party's stand towards the 13-month-old A B Vajpayee government during its trial of strength in the Lok Sabha, saying it would reveal its cards on the floor of the house.

Talking to newspersons, Kanshiram and former UP Chief Minister Mayawati refused to give any indication about the stand of the five-member BSP group in the Lok Sabha.

However, in reply to a question whether the BJP is pinning hopes on the BSP for support, Kanshiram ridiculed such ''hopes'' and asked what the basis was for such expectations from his party. ''Are they (the BJP) hoping for the BSP's support on the grounds of what the BJP had done to BSP'S government in the state'', he questioned.

UNI

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