UP rebels bide their time

While the BJP rebels in Uttar Pradesh await a verdict on their membership in the House, they are continuing with their offensive, albeit behind the curtains. ‘‘We mishandled the initial rebellion by inviting the media in every step. Our mission to topple the Mayawati government failed; it resulted in only embarrassing some of our rank (Raja Bhaiya and others). We will continue meeting legislators and wait for a moment to strike,’’ said a rebel leader.

‘‘It’s all as per our wait-and-watch game,’’ Save BJP Committee spokesperson Ramashish Rai said. The strategy was obvious yesterday when a prominent leader of

their camp, Ganga Bux Singh, shared the dais with Urban Development Minister Lalji Tandon, who was projected as a villain by rebels, in Unnao.

‘‘I apologise for the rebellion and assure you that I will be with the BJP always,’’ Singh told Tandon. And in turn, the minister got him projects worth nearly Rs 1 crore for his segment. ‘‘Singh never aired his grievances in public and everybody is free to do so on the party’s forum,’’ Tandon said.

While many see that as Singh’s homecoming, more such meetings are rumoured to take place in different Assembly segments, perhaps to project that there’s no bad blood between rebels and the party.