NEW DELHI, Dec 10: Smarting under the Bahujan Samaj Party's declaration that the BJP is enemy number one, party vice president K.L. Sharma today lashed out at BSP chief Kanshi Ram for being ``an ungrateful person''.

Sharma sought to remind Kanshi Ram that his deputy, Mayawati, became Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh twice only because of the BJP's indulgence. ``He has betrayed us and he should be ashamed of it. He will be considered an undependable commodity,'' the BJP spokesperson said.

Sharma was reacting to Kanshi Ram's vow to reduce the BJP's strength in the next Lok Sabha to less than 100 MPs. The BSP supremo made this declaration yesterday at a tea party to celebrate the graduation of his party to national status. No BJP leader was invited. Despite the tirade against Kanshi Ram, Sharma kept the door open for a possible electoral alliance with the BSP by stressing that ``as of now'', there were no negotiations between the two on this issue.

The BJP leader said his party's election plank this time will be ``a stable government under an able prime minister''.

At the same time, he revealed, they were in touch with former prime minister and Janata Dal leader H.D. Deve Gowda as well as Congress rebels S. Bangarappa and Mamata Banerjee for electoral tie-ups.

He stressed, however, that any alliance would have to be finalised before the elections and all the BJP's partners should know what the party stands for.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.