Mumbai: Keeping Bahujan Samaj Party's (BSP's) options of a pre-poll electoral pact open, its president Mayawati today (Feb 20, 2004) kick started the party's election campaign in Maharashtra by lashing out at both Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

"Many manuvadi political parties are approaching the BSP for a pre-poll electoral alliance, but I have not decided any thing as yet in this regard," Mayawati told a largely attended "swabhiman" (self-pride) rally at sprawling Shivaji Park in Central Mumbai.

The BSP leader indicated that at present she would prefer to maintain equidistance from both the BJP and the Congress.

Launching the BSP's campaign Maharashtra, where the party is likely to test electoral waters in the forthcoming elections, Mayawati blasted Congress for "failing" to address the issues of farmers, unemployment and ameliorate the conditions of dalits in its four-and-half decade rule.

In her speech that lasted nearly two hours, the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister ridiculed BJP's feel good factor asking, "Has the party asked how many dalits are feeling good in their rule?"

However, Mayawati said she would take a decision regarding joining hands with a "manuvadi" party only with the consideration of the alliance benefiting the "Bahujan Samaj" at large.