Maya smiles as BJP rebel eats his words

The clouds of uncertainty over the Mayawati government cleared today as the leader of the BJP dissidents in Uttar Pradesh and convenor of th...

The clouds of uncertainty over the Mayawati government cleared today as the leader of the BJP dissidents in Uttar Pradesh and convenor of the BJP Bachao Samiti, Ganga Bhakt Singh, returned to the party fold. Declaring a virtual end to the latest episode of dissidence in the BJP, he said: ‘‘I had never left the party and was trying to save the BJP while being a part of it.’’

Singh announced this at a joint press conference with leader of the BJP legislature party and a senior minister in the Mayawati Cabinet, Lalji Tondon, at his residence. Later, he told The Indian Express that other rebel MLAs had also ‘‘spoken to the party high command and all lingering issues are being sorted out amicably’’.

Seven of these 11 MLAs returned to the BJP yesterday, he said at the press conference. He presented four of them — Shiv Kant Ojha, Badshah Singh, Anil Verma, Daya Shankar Verma and Ganga Bux Singh. The party high command and local leadership, Singh added, had assured that all issues would be settled.

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However, later in the day, another prominent dissident leader, Ramashish Rai, vowed to continue his fight against the state BJP leadership and the Mayawati government, saying Singh and others had returned to the party fold after being promised lucrative berths and out of fear of persecution. ‘‘Their move will not affect our campaign,’’ Rai, an MLC and the spokesman of the BJP Bachao Committee, told PTI. He said at least three BJP MLAs — Ravindra Singh Pundir, Kovid Kumar Singh and Mayankeshwar Sharan Singh — were with him.

After announcing his return to the BJP fold, Singh joined the lunch hosted by Mayawati at her 5, Kalidas Road, official residence. He must have been welcomed by open arms by the Chief Minister, who has been spending anxious days in anticipation of the Assembly session in March, where the strength of her government will be tested on the floor of the House.

Tandon’s success in winning over Singh is all the more surprising as it was he who had been the most vocal critic of the dissidents. He said today he wouldn’t press on the Speaker to disqualify them when the latter takes up the BJP petition on the matter on January 13. Tandon also added he was happy at Singh’s return and the party would accord him due respect. ‘‘Singh has shown magnanimity by forgiving me for the mistakes committed unknowingly by me.’’

Admitting the Cabinet expansion had been carried out in hurry, giving rise to resentment, Tandon indicated another expansion might take place in the near future.

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But it was Singh who was hardpressed to defend his decision to return to the party after rejecting earlier overtures from Tandon. Asked about his announcement to launch an agitation after the arrest of Independent legislator Raja Bhaiya, Singh claimed having said so and put the blame on the media.

At the lunch hosted by her, Mayawati went after the bureaucracy again, this time accusing it of trying to drive a wedge between the BJP and BSP. Recently there has been renewed tension between the two parties over state BJP chief Vinay Katiyar’s remarks on B.R. Ambedkar. Claimed Mayawati: ‘‘Certain bureaucrats owing allegiance to the Congress and Samajwadi Party are trying to create differences between the two parties.’’ She also urged party leaders to get names of these officers.

‘‘Now it would not be a minor punishment like transfer but stringent action.’’

Incidentally, the Congress did its own share of bureaucrat bashing today. AICC secretary Subodh Kant Sahay claimed certain senior officers had issued instructions to district magistrates and superintendents of police in the state to ‘‘adopt any measure to lure away Congress MLAs’’ and added: ‘‘We will not spare such bureaucrats when we get an opportunity.’’