The Hindu : Rebel MLA says RLD will split

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, May 25, 2003

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Rebel MLA says RLD will split

By J.P. Shukla

LUCKNOW MAY 24. The Rashtriya Lok Dal, which has 14 members in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, today appeared headed for a split with the suspended party MLA, Samarpal Singh, claiming that more than half the party legislators would clinch the issue within a week or two.

Mr. Singh severely criticised Ajit Singh, who resigned from the Union Cabinet on Friday, for his decision to withdraw the party's support to the Mayawati Government. "The decision was ill-timed as damage to the cause of the farmers had already been done. Withdrawal of support to the Uttar Pradesh Government at this stage has no meaning," he said. He claimed that eight to 10 RLD MLAs were in touch with him. They were keeping their options open and a split in the party could be formalised shortly. These MLAs were in favour of extending their support to a government with pro-farmer policies.

Mr. Singh felt "let-down" when Ajit Singh ignored his claim while nominating his party Ministers to the Mayawati Government. He openly revolted against the leadership and was suspended from the party legislature group. He said Ajit Singh had already destroyed the party and severely deviated from the policies of his late father, Charan Singh. He had completely ignored the problems of farmers who were the backbone of the RLD, Samarpal Singh charged.

Despite the announcement by Mr. Ajit Singh withdrawing his party's support to the Uttar Pradesh Government, no formal letter to this effect had reached the Governor till this evening. Reports suggested that he had taken the resignations of the five Ministers of his party but these were still to be forwarded to the Chief Minister or the Governor. The Mayawati Government continues to enjoy the support of 211 MLAs, excluding the members of the RLD, in the Assembly which has an effective strength of 402. That has prompted the Opposition parties to wait and watch and strike only when the time is ripe.

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Rebel MLA says RLD will split