BJP sharply divided over BSP's demand

The Bharatiya Janata Party seems to be on the brink of a major crisis. Despite the party leadership's tough stand against the Bahujan Samaj Party's demand for transferring power in Uttar Pradesh, serious differences seem to plague the BJP.

While a strong section of the BJP leadership both in New Delhi and Lucknow is almost willing to concede the coalition partner's demand -- that its nominee should be the assembly speaker -- another powerful lobby including chief minister-in-waiting Kalyan Singh, assembly Speaker Kesri Nath Tripathi and UP party president Raj Nath Singh have rejected the ''unjust and unfair'' condition.

''There's no question of any compromise on the post as it was not part of the agreement between the two parties,'' the leaders said. It was agreed that Chief Minister Mayawati would transfer power to the BJP after her six-month rotational term expires on September 21, they said.

After calling on Mayawati on Tuesday, the speaker told the media, ''I have not minced words in telling the chief minister that I would not step down from the post under any circumstances.''

Tripathi even went to the extent of saying, ''I cannot help it if this decision casts a shadow on the BSP-BJP coalition.''

Similar views were expressed by Kalyan Singh, in an exclusive interview to a local Hindi daily. ''I don't care whether I become chief minister or not. For me the party's prestige and credibility is more important,'' he said.

On the other hand, BJP national vice-president Sunder Singh Bhandari, who is in charge of UP affairs, sheepishly said, ''Even though the demand is unfair, we have not closed our doors. There is scope for talks.

''I am going to hold talks with our party ministers and MLAs,'' he said, indicating that he is aware of the sharp differences in the state unit.

BJP leaders like state Minister for Public Works Kalraj Misra and Lalji Tandon, considered close to the chief minister, are openly lobbying that the speaker's post should be transferred to the BSP.

Kalraj Misra has reportedly asked legislators not to kick up a row over the speaker's post. ''I think we should leave this to the party high command,'' he was heard telling Raj Nath Singh.

Speculation is also rife that Misra is angling for the chief minister's post and that the BSP's demand is only a ruse to keep Kalyan Singh out. Mayawati fears Kalyan Singh will review many of her decisions.

Back in Delhi, it is learnt that former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee is almost willing to concede the BSP's demand. He has reportedly sent Bhandari to Lucknow to assess the situation even as another round of talks between the BSP and the BJP is scheduled for Monday, September 15.

The BJP leaders are optimistic that the issue will be resolved by then. However, with the battlelines clearly drawn, it is rather difficult to say who will eventually given in, or whether the crisis will lead to another round of central rule in the state.

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