More trouble for Kalyan Singh govt

Another crisis haunts the Bharatiya Janata Party-Bahujan Samaj Party ruling alliance in Uttar Pradesh, with the former's state unit opposing the national leadership's proposal to defuse tension between the coalition partners.

Opposing senior BJP leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee's suggestion that a state-level coordination committee comprising the two parties should be formed, state Revenue Minister Ashok Yadav said the national leadership would have to face opposition if it yields to the BSP pressure.

He claimed that all BJP legislators were against the move.

If the committee is formed, former chief minister Mayawati would have a field day, said BJP legislature party deputy leader Chandra Srivastava. ''The panel would enhance the scope for her direct interference in the administration,'' he said.

Expressing fears that the panel is intended to put undue pressure on Chief Minister Kalyan Singh, Srivastava said, ''Why wasn't such an idea mooted during her regime?... The differences could be sorted without constituting the committee.''

As the BJP never interfered in the Mayawati government, the same freedom should be given to Kalyan Singh, said Yadav. ''Moreover, a central committee already exists to sort out the differences between the two,'' he added.

Despite such objections, the proposal would be discussed at the October 12 meeting in New Delhi between the alliance partners.

Meanwhile, the BSP is firm on holding demonstrations at all district headquarters on October 15 in protest against the Kalyan Singh government's order against the misuse of the dalit act. Senior BSP leader and former parliamentary affairs minister Barkhu Ram Verma said the party ministers and office-bearers would participate in the demonstrations.

UNI

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