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Mayawati meets Sonia Gandhi

NEW DELHI: Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati called on Congress president Sonia Gandhi here on Sunday night. This is being seen as a “patch-up” meeting in the context of both parties trading charges in Uttar Pradesh, particularly after the elections in Gujarat, where the BSP played “spoiler” for the Congress in several constituencies.

There was no official word on the meeting, but All-India Congress Committee sources said Ms. Mayawati made the “courtesy call” to enquire about Ms. Gandhi’s health.

Both are understood to have agreed on restraining their parties from making “personal attacks” while attempting to expand their party base.

This is the first meeting between the two leaders after Ms. Mayawati threatened to withdraw support to the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre.

It assumes significance as the Congress has in the last two months raised the pitch against the 10-month-old Mayawati government.

Party general secretary and Congress Working Committee member Rahul Gandhi raised the issue of non-utilisation of funds in Bundelkhand, as also several farmer-related issues at two rallies in the State.

The party sought a separate Bundelkhand State for better governance. It alleged sluggishness in utilisation of funds under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA).

The Congress has also launched a hisab do (give account) campaign. Mr. Gandhi is scheduled to address another rally this week, in Allahabad.

On her part, Ms. Mayawati placed under suspension four officials who appreciated Mr. Gandhi’s role in a book on the development of Sultanpur. Later she softened her stand, saying the role of Rajiv Gandhi and Ms. Sonia Gandhi in the development of the Rae Bareli-Amethi belt could not be denied but she found the conduct of the officials unacceptable.

On the NREGA, Ms. Mayawati wrote to Governor T.V. Rajeswar stating the programme was “good” but creation of infrastructure such as ‘barat ghars’ and community centres should be included in it.

The Congress has, however, said these are “capital intensive” as opposed to what is envisaged in the programme — creation of “labour-intensive” assets.

Amid the Congress-BSP war of words, the Samajwadi Party gave a call to the Congress to come together against Ms. Mayawati’s party. The Congress indicated that it could look at the possibility if “it is approached.”

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