I am firmly in saddle, says U.P. CM

By Our Special Correspondent

LUCKNOW, AUG. 29. On his return from Nagpur after attending the BJP's national council meeting, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr. Ram Prakash Gupta, today scotched all speculation about his imminent exit from office. ``I shall complete my tenure and the next assembly election in U.P. would be held in due time under my leadership,'' he asserted.

Addressing presspersons here, Mr.Gupta, who has had to face speculations over his likely exit, necessitating the central leadership to categorically clarify that the party would face the assembly poll under his stewardship, was at pains once again to assert that he was firmly in office. Another bout of misunderstanding was created by the reported observation of the newly-elected party chief, Mr. Bangaru Laxman, that a leadership change in U.P.could be considered if any proposal came. Mr. Gupta clarified that in Nagpur he had not seen any such report in the media and therefore was not aware what the new party chief had stated in response to presspersons' queries. None of the central leaders, including Mr. Laxman, had told him anything in this regard. On the other hand, two senior U.P. leaders - the State party chief, Mr. Kalraj Misra, and the Union Minister, Mr. Rajnath Singh, had unequivocally told the media in Nagpur that he would continue in office.

Although the central leadership was not very pleased with the soft style of functioning of Mr. Gupta, who was inducted abruptly after the exit of Mr. Kalyan Singh as a non- controversial,low profile leader, those who were instrumental in the ouster of Mr. Kalyan Singh remained urreconciled. They kept up their lobbying, leading to further speculation, till a peeved Chief Minister told the top central leadership to make up its mind and take a final decision. The rank and file of the party was dismayed over the recurring reports of political change. The Sangh Parivar seniors also took a dim view of the goings-on in U.P and felt that replacement of Mr. Gupta by any controversial faction leader would cause more harm than good.

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