The Hindu : Mayawati holds talks with U.P. BJP leaders

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 22, 2002

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Mayawati holds talks with U.P. BJP leaders

By Neena Vyas

NEW DELHI APRIL 21. Yet another round of talks on government formation in Uttar Pradesh took place here today between the Bharatiya Janata Party's State leaders, Kalraj Mishra and Lalji Tandon, and the Bahujan Samaj Party leader, Mayawati. And later, for the first time, the two BJP leaders held separate discussions with the Rashtriya Lok Dal leader, Ajit Singh.

Significantly, the former U.P. Chief Minister, Rajnath Singh, who has all along opposed an arrangement with the BSP, stayed away from the discussions although he was in Delhi.

The BJP leaders, while confirming that discussions had been held, refused to divulge any details. Kushabhau Thakre, the former BJP president who is now in-charge of political affairs in U.P., said the political arrangement in the State was expected to be finalised over the next few days. The final green signal would be given at a meeting of the BJP parliamentary board to be held after the return of the party president, Jana Krishnamurthi, from Tamil Nadu.

The BJP is particularly keen to tie the knot with the BSP as early as possible to ensure that the BSP voted in favour of the Government in the Lok Sabha in the event of voting to resolve the current deadlock in Parliament over the Gujarat debate under a substantive motion.

Mr. Thakre said he had met Rajnath Singh, Mr. Mishra and Mr. Tandon over dinner yesterday and it was then decided that Mr .Mishra and Mr. Tandon would meet Ms. Mayawati today.

When asked why Mr. Singh did not join the discussions today, he said: "you cannot hold discussions like these between 10 persons... A decision was taken last night that Mr. Mishra and Mr. Tandon would go for the meeting.''

Although it was not stated by Mr. Thakre, he had apparently laid down the ground rules for the discussion with Ms. Mayawati at last night's meeting.

Notwithstanding some reservations, the BJP expects "no problem'' from the RLD on the proposed coalition government in U.P. The RLD spokesperson, however, said his party would insist on the creation of `Harit Pradesh', a separate western U.P. State, as a major issue in any agreed programme for governance. He also said Ministerial positions in the proposed coalition government should be distributed among political partners as a percentage of their respective strengths in the State Legislature.

Reports from Lucknow indicated today that neither the Lok Janshakti of Ramvilas Paswan nor the Janata Dal (United) of Sharad Yadav would have any objection to the BSP-BJP tie-up. The Lok Janshakti and the JD(U), both had a seat-sharing arrangement with the BJP in the U.P. Assembly polls earlier this year.

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