The Hindu : Mayawati all set to become U.P. CM

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 19, 2002

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Mayawati all set to become U.P. CM

By Neena Vyas

NEW DELHI APRIL 18. The Bharatiya Janata Party today took a major step towards forming a government in Uttar Pradesh under the leadership of Mayawati of the Bahujan Samaj Party by formally announcing that "some time next week,'' the BJP Parliamentary Board would meet "to review its earlier decision to sit in the Opposition.'' In the meantime, talks between the BJP and the BSP would continue.

At a meeting called by the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, at his residence this evening, the central party leadership placed its cards before the State leaders who till recently had strongly opposed the move for a coalition with the BSP, saying it was a recipe for disaster for the BJP. Today's meeting put the State leadership's formal stamp of approval on the plan to share power with Ms. Mayawati.

The Union Home Minister, L. K. Advani, the Human Resource Development Minister, Murli Manohar Joshi, the BJP president, Jana Krishnamurthi, and the Uttar Pradesh in-charge of political affairs, Kushabhau Thakre, were present. The State leaders were led by the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Rajnath Singh, and the State unit president, Kalraj Mishra. Others present included Lalji Tandon, Ram Prakash Gupta and Harish Chandra Srivastava.

Coming out of the 90-minute meeting, Mr. Krishnamurthi said that no "formulas'' for power-sharing were discussed, but a decision was taken "to review the previous decision to sit in the Opposition which was taken by the party's Parliamentary Board soon after the Uttar Pradesh Assembly election results were known.'' He confirmed that over the last few days, the BSP leaders, Ms. Mayawati and Kanshi Ram, had met Mr. Vajpayee, Mr. Advani and Dr. Joshi in a series of meetings, and more meetings would follow. He indicated that the BJP's Parliamentary Board would meet "probably next week.''

Although various power-sharing formulas are being discussed, it seems that the details of the "arrangement'' in Uttar Pradesh are still to be finalised. What seems certain though is that Ms. Mayawati would be Chief Minister for a full five-year term (if the coalition lasts that long).

Unlike the last time, the Chief Ministership will not be held by the BSP and the BJP in rotation on a six-monthly basis. The arrangement collapsed immediately after the BSP's six-month tenure came to an end.

Mr. Krishnamurthi said categorically that details like whether there would be a Deputy Chief Minister's post, or who would take the Speaker's position, and the formula for the division of Cabinet portfolios "were not discussed at all.''

Some senior BJP leaders are admitting that it will not be easy for the State leaders to make the cadres swallow the "cohabitation-with-BSP" pill.

"We will see how we deal with this,'' was all Mr. Mishra would say. And Mr. Rajnath Singh's grim long face could not hide what he felt about the political wedding plans in Uttar Pradesh.

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