Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Wednesday said her party will extend support to the Congress to form government in Madhya Pradesh and keep the BJP out of power.

She also said that if the need arises, the BSP will support the Congress in Rajasthan to form the next government.

"We don't agree with the ideology of the Congress. But we will support it to keep the BJP out of power," she said. "Our leaders have told us that it is with a heavy heart that people in Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and MP gave their votes to Congress just to keep BJP out of power," she added.

The Congress, which was locked in a tantalising see-saw battle with the BJP in Madhya Pradesh, has emerged as the single-largest party with 114 seats after the vote count ended on Wednesday morning, according to the State Election Commission Office.

The party is, however, two short of the simple majority mark, 116 seats, in the 230-member Assembly. The BJP was close behind with 109 seats.

"I am happy that our leader challenged Congress and BJP well in these elections ... I want to congratulate all my leaders for the elections they fought," said the BSP chief, adding that BSP was formed as congress and BJP ignored dalits and poor.

The Bahujan Samaj Party won two seats and the Samajwadi Party one. Independents bagged four seats, Madhya Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer V L Kantha Rao told PTI.

First Published:Dec 12, 2018 11:08 AM IST