Parallel power centres in U.P. BJP

By J.P. Shukla

LUCKNOW, FEB. 10. Lack of discipline in the Uttar Pradesh unit of the BJP seems to have generated centrifugal forces resulting in parallel centres of power and these, in turn, are challenging the authority of both the Chief Minister, Mr. Rajnath Singh, and the State BJP unit chief, Mr. Kalraj Mishra. The Minister for Urban Development, Mr. Lalji Tandon and the Minister for Public Works Department, Mr. Om Prakash Singh, have experienced the influence of two of these centres of power.

Mr. Tandon enjoys his authority by virtue of his proximity to the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee. Mr. Tandon's over- enthusiasm in welcoming the Prime Minister, during his recent visit to the State capital led to spending huge amounts of money in putting up arches, festoons and banners, with the Opposition severely criticising the lavish expenditure. ``Wastage of such an amount on useless gestures do not conform to the country's mood, which is reeling under the impact of the Gujarat earthquake,'' Opposition leaders have said.

The Minister for Public Works Department, on the other hand, has taken overt steps to project himself as a backward leader in his own right. Ever since the party rejected his claim to the post of State BJP chief (as he declined to give up his ministerial position to accept the party post), he has made it clear that he was not ready to adjust himself to the organisational norms as desired by the BJP leadership.

On Tuesday, he celebrated his birthday in a style that could be a Prime Minister's envy. Also, he chose to celebrate his birthday bash in his own Chunar Assembly constituency in Mirzapur district.

Mr. Singh's high profile politics has prompted the party to build parallel backward leadership and efforts are now on to net in the Samajwadi Party MP, Mr. Balram Singh Yadav, whose son has been given the BJP ticket to contest the Bharthana Assembly by- election in Etawah district. The move is likely to further harden the attitude of Mr. Om Prakash Singh, who has been proclaiming as the only leader among backwards in the BJP. Others could be backward leaders for namesake but enjoyed little support among the community, has been his refrain.

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