NEWSLINKS US EDITION SOUTH ASIA COLUMNISTS DIARY SPECIALS INTERVIEWS CAPITAL BUZZ REDIFF POLL DEAR REDIFF THE STATES ELECTIONS ARCHIVES US ARCHIVES SEARCH REDIFF
Bharatiya Janata Party legislators are making all-out efforts to find a place in Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati's cabinet, expansion of which is slated for October 11.
The craving for a berth has brought several BJP leaders from all over the state to Lucknow to plead their case before senior leaders, while some even took off for Delhi to lobby with central leaders.
Mayawati has indicated that 40 members would be added to the council of ministers and also made it clear that the berths would be shared equally by the coalition partners, BJP and BSP.
With several power centres within the party, the BJP leadership is grappling with the onerous task of selecting 20 names from among a horde of aspirants.
The battle lines are being drawn.
A section of the party is against the induction of those who have already done several stints as ministers. The younger legislators want an opportunity to prove their worth and they have the backing of state party chief Vinay Katiyar.
An important factor in deciding the names will be Housing and Urban Development Minister Lalji Tandon, who apart from enjoying close proximity to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee is among the BJP leaders Mayawati is most comfortable with.
Tandon has denied any kind of tussle over berths. "We have neither had any problems within the party nor with the BSP over the cabinet expansion. All the modalities have been finalized," he told rediff.com.
When asked about the delay in handing over the BJP's list to the chief minister, he shot back, "The established practice is of the names of prospective ministers being disclosed only at the eleventh hour. There is no question of giving out the names at this stage."
More reports from Uttar Pradesh
Back to top
Tell us what you think of this report
