With BJP certain to lose power in Uttar Pradesh, party leaders expressed divergent views on chances of aligning with the BSP to form a government in the state.
While sports and youth affairs minister Uma Bharati did not rule out the possibility of tying up with the BSP, senior party MP Vinay Katiyar said that the BJP should sit in the Opposition.

Terming the Samajwadi Party as a group of criminal and anarchist elements, the minister said, "We will try not to let the state fall into the hands of criminals."

When asked whether the BJP would align with the BSP, she merely said, "We should do everything to ensure the people of the state do not feel insecure." She said that her party's moves as regards up had four objectives - to see to the interests of the people, aspirations of the party workers, not to have any truck with undesirable elements and not to indulge in horse-trading.
Bureau Report