Akhilesh's offer to Mayawati on the result eve is a double-edged weapon

Lucknow: The open- door-policy of Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav adopted for the Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati is aimed more at remaining in power than keeping away the saffron brigade from power. In any case it will work more in favour of the former than the latter in months to come.

It will work to her disadvantage because her critics will get a new handle to beat her with. All through the campaigning Prime Minister Narendra Modi and some other BJP leaders have said that the SP and the BSP are two sides of the same coin. The partnership between the SP and the BSP will confirm this doubt and give a new propaganda material to them and others.

Workers and leaders who have been witness to the 1995 guest-house outrage and maltreatment to party leader Mayawati will find it hard to stomach. It will upset them also because she had vowed not to join hands with the SP again. Many of them may desert her in disgust.

It will also not serve her interest because both the parties depend heavily on Muslims. A division of their votes will go against her interest. It was precisely to keep the Muslim vote-bank in tact that an alliance with the Congress was formed by the SP.

An alliance with BSP and the Congress is unlikely to be appreciated by SP founder Mulayam Singh Yadav as well. It was the anti-Congressism which had brought Mulayam to power. He cannot also forget that it was Mayawati who had " ditched" him and brought down his government.

Whatever harm it may cause to Mayawati, for Akhilesh it will serve as a double-edged weapon. If she refuses to join him he will accuse her of siding with the communal forces. Mayawati is reported to have campaigned in Gujarat for the BJP. That will add to his anti-propaganda list.

One more issue is worth consideration. Will Mayawati be ready to work under a " babua" or a not fully grown child, he has been often called by her? She has been chief minister of the state many a time. It will be hard for her to accept this position. If she is allowed to head, SP leaders will go against Akhilesh.

So, it is not easy decision to take for Mayawati. Her silence on the issue so far can be easily explained in this light.