BJP-BSP talks over UP govt's fate fail

The third round of talks between Bharatiya Janata Party leaders and Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Kanshi Ram on the latter's demand for continuing their coalition in Uttar Pradesh failed on Wednesday night.

The BSP insists that its nominee should be appointed UP assembly speaker before Chief Minister Mayawati transfers power to the BJP on September 21. The BJP has rejected the demand, saying its nominee will continue as the assembly speaker.

The meeting held between former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, BJP president L K Advani and Kanshi Ram, which lasted nearly four hours, decided that another meeting would be held at Lucknow soon.

Advani and Kanshi Ram maintained that there would be a smooth transition of power on September 21. As for the speaker's issue, the leaders claimed it would be resolved amicably.

If everything was alright as per the agreement reached between the two parties, what had they been discussing in the past three days? Advani, Vajpayee and Kanshi Ram had no specific reply to the question. Kanshi Ram, however, added that they had been discussing modalities to extend ties outside Uttar Pradesh.

Kanshi Ram also said certain issues under the ''unwritten agreement'' were being discussed by them. He did not elaborate what these issues were.

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Another crisis haunts BJP-BSP alliance in UP