During the parliamentary elections in 1991, the Congress did poorly in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan and to a lesser extent, Madhya Pradesh. Worse still, the Congress was trounced in the state assemblies. The situation was custom-made for Rao’s real political inclinations. He could now evolve a policy of live and let live with the BJP. This meant: do not disturb the Congress at the centre and the centre will extend a helping hand to the four BJP states.
