Work harder, Kalyan told

LUCKNOW, July 4: Things got uncomfortable for Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh today with BJP president Kushabhau Thakre saying the state government needed to “work harder” to maintain law and order and improve Uttar Pradesh’s “dismal economic condition”. Even as Thakre was expressing concern over the performance of the government, at least 42 MLAs, including five ministers, are said to have decided to meet him tomorrow and express their opposition to the Chief Minister.

This is the second time in three months that the dissidents have taken a stand against Kalyan Singh’s leadership. In April, about two dozen MLAs had gone to Delhi and met L K Advani, A B Vajpayee, Thakre and other leaders with their demand for a change in the state leadership.

Of the 42 MLAs, three are from Aligarh district and nine are Dalits. At least 20 are said to be Thakurs. They say they oppose Kalyan’s “autocratic” style.

Addressing BJP workers here before going on to attend the state executive meeting, Thakre saidhe had come to review the performance of the government as he had received some complaints and appealed to party workers “to help the government”.