The Hindu : BJP chief warns dissidents in U.P.

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Oct 25, 2002

Front Page

Front Page

BJP chief warns dissidents in U.P.

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI OCT. 24. The Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, met the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Mayawati, for over two hours this afternoon even as the Bharatiya Janata Party president, Venkaiah Naidu, pointedly rejected all demands made by the party's dissident MLAs and MLCs in Uttar Pradesh and signalled "strong disciplinary action latest by tomorrow" if the dissidents failed to fall in line.

Although officially it was denied that Ms. Mayawati and Mr. Advani discussed Uttar Pradesh affairs, it is understood that the affairs of the State and the lynching of five Dalits in Jhajjar in Haryana — Ms. Mayawati plans to visit the place tomorrow — figured during the talks that took place before the formal lunch where other guests were also present.

Immediately after the meeting, Ms. Mayawati told reporters that she was "willing" to take in a few more BJP ministers in her Government "proportionate to the strength of the party" if such a recommendation were to be made by the senior BJP leaders in the State. But a major expansion was ruled out as she had recently undertaken that exercise.

The problem in the BJP is that the expansion has triggered the rebellion as several MLAs hopeful of ministerial berths have been kept out. The public statements from the Samajwadi Party leaders that they will be attempting to topple the Mayawati Government has added another dimension to the BJP rebellion.

Mr. Naidu today said that the party general secretary in-charge of Uttar Pradesh, Rajnath Singh, was in Lucknow today and talking to the four remaining dissidents to whom show-cause letters had already been issued. "If they do not fall in line, latest by tomorrow, strong disciplinary action will be taken," he added. Clear instructions have been sent from the senior party leadership here that their demands are not to be considered and dissidents must commit themselves to not raising issues in public again. It was also clearly stated that giving ministerial posts was the prerogative of the Chief Minister and no MLA can or should question this.

Cong. to await request from Mulayam

With the Samajwadi Party yet to approach the Congress for support to form a Government in Uttar Pradesh in the wake of open differences within the ruling coalition in the State, the senior leadership of the Congress today maintained that the party would formulate a response only after Mulayam Singh Yadav made a formal request to Sonia Gandhi.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page

Stories in this Section

SC pulls up Krishna for defying orders

Chechens kill one hostage

Uneasy truce in Sangh Parivar

BJP chief warns dissidents in U.P.

RLD suspends MLA

EC meet on Gujarat polls

2 held in sniper case

Salman gets bail