The newly inducted BJP ministers in Uttar Pradesh are sparing no chance to show their anger over what they call insignificant portfolios.Four-time BJP MLA Phagu Chauhan has returned his official car and let go of security guards in protest against getting the Family Welfare Department. Before returning to his constituency, he complained to state BJP chief Vinay Katiyar and Urban Development Minister Lalji Tandon.The party expects another jolt when Om Prakash Singh returns from his foreign trip. In charge of several departments when he left, Singh has been stripped of all except Irrigation. The rest have been handed over to the new ministers. Singh has long been vocal about his dislike for BJP leaders’ way of working. Now he has more reasons to be disappointed.Singh may find Tandon’s position after expansion more irritable. Though Tandon was relieved of several departments, he is still in charge of five. The ‘‘double standard’’ could provoke trouble because Singh considers himself a leader of Tandon’s stature.Other senior BJP MLAs such as Laxmikant Bajpai and Shyam Deo Rai Chaudary too are unhappy with their ministries. ‘‘Legislators much junior to us have been given important portfolios and we have got insignificant ones,’’ they reportedly told the state leadership.BJP’s Ayodhya MLA Lallu Singh Chauhan refused to assume oath of office for getting an ‘‘unimportant portfolio’’ and Hardoi MLA Ganga Bhakt Singh resigned for being ‘‘overlooked’’.Vinay Katiyar has only one defence. ‘‘The ministry has its limitations and everybody can’t be satisfied. We are taking care to placate our legislators. We’ll talk to them,’’ he said.State BJP sources said about three to four more MLAs might be made ministers but refused to say when. The party has also softened its stand on taking disciplinary action against some disgruntled MLAs for criticising the leadership. Now it would prefer ‘‘to resolve’’ the discontent through talks. Disciplinary action is no solution, spokesman H.N. Dixit said here today.
