By IANS,
New Delhi : A large posse of security guards converted Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati’s new residence here into a fortress while she hosted a dinner for leaders of the newly formed Third Front Sunday evening.
The road leading to her 14, Gurudwara Rakabganj Road residence was blocked for a stretch of 200 metres as securitymen frisked passers-by and checked vehicles, while the height of the compound wall was raised to over 15 feet by using bamboo curtains.
Only those living in the area and media personnel were being allowed anywhere near her bungalow.
A battery of journalists stationed itself outside Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati’s house behind a barricade about a couple of hundred metres away as they waited for some leaders to come out and speak on discussions inside. Over 30 OB vans of television news channels virtually blocked the road.
“I have never seen so many journalists or policemen here,” said Ramvir Singh, driver of an MP staying close by. He was hanging around outside the Mayawati home with his eight-year-old son.
Leaders of the Left and regional parties constituting the Third Front attended the dinner at the brightly lit bungalow.
Discussions over food would focus on startegies to defeat the ruling Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and the main opposition, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), in the Lok Sabha elections.
There was speculation that Mayawati wanted the Third Front to announce her name as its prime ministerial candidate.
Mayawati earlier in the day disclosed her party would go it alone in the elections and strike political alliances after the polls.
She, however, conveyed her symbolic support to the new front with the dinner and had also sent her trusted lieutenant Satish Misra when the formation was announced in Karnataka Thursday.