US EDITION
COMMENTARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ELECTIONS
ARCHIVES

Search Rediff

Crisis in Uttar Pradesh BJP deepens

Sharat Pradhan in Lucknow

The political crisis in the Uttar Pradesh unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party has deepened with warring groups hardening their respective stands. The crisis could have a major bearing on the party's prospects in the general election as the state sends 85 members to the Lok Sabha. The last time the BJP had bagged 57 seats in the state (60 including its allies).

With a band of dissident legislators demanding Chief Minister Kalyan Singh's ouster, and the latter seeking disciplinary action against them, the ruling party is now on the verge of a split.

Speculation is rife about Kalyan Singh's threat to step down from office as a mark of protest against what his supporters term "the partisan behaviour" of party bigwigs in New Delhi.

Sensing Kalyan Singh's belligerent mood, BJP chief Shashikant 'Kushabhau' Thakre on Thursday dispatched general secretary K N Govindacharya to thrash out an amicable settlement. This was Govindacharya's second visit to Lucknow in the past week.

The dissidents won the first round against the chief minister when they forced the exit of his controversial aide, Kusum Rai.

Kalyan Singh had drawn much flak on account of his proximity to Kusum Rai, who had virtually turned into a parallel power centre, much to the chagrin of senior partymen.

The BJP central leadership's decision to seek her resignation from the recently conferred position of chairperson of UP State Social Advisory Board (with the rank of minister of state) was aimed at mollifying the dissidents.

But Kalyan Singh's detractors, smelling blood, have declared that ''nothing short of the chief minister's exit will improve the state of affairs in the party''.

On the other hand, the chief minister showed his belligerence by ignoring Thakre's invitation to a conciliatory meeting in Delhi on Thursday.

Apart from Kalyan Singh, those invited included state BJP chief Rajnath Singh and senior ministers, Kalraj Misra and Lalji Tandon, who are not even on talking terms with the chief minister for the past many months.

Surely, realisation has dawned on the BJP bosses that with a divided house the party will turn in a miserable performance at the hustings.

What is giving rise to speculation about Kalyan Singh's threatened resignation is his sudden confinement to his private residence at Lucknow's Mall Avenue for the last three days, ever since he had a major showdown with his detractors. He normally stays in his official bungalow at Kalidas Marg.

One source among the select few who have had the privilege of meeting the chief minister in recent days confided that "Kalyan Singh is hurt by the lukewarm response shown by party bosses to his demand for punitive action against legislators who are openly inciting dissidence in the party rank and file".

Highly placed sources confirmed that Thakre was not favourably inclined towards this demand. He is said to have made it clear to the chief minister on the telephone that the action resorted to by the dissidents did not warrant any punitive action.

He also refused to heed the suggestion to take cognisance of all that has been stated by the dissidents in the media as evidence for disciplinary action.

Govindacharya, who had a prolonged closed-door session with Kalyan Singh over dinner at the chief minister's home late last night, refused to divulge what transpired between the two.

He, however, continued with his peace mission for the second day today, meeting rival factions. He even set aside all protocol and called on Kusum Rai at her home for the second time.

Yet, whether his efforts will eventually bear any fruit, remains to be seen.

Tell us what you think of this report