Advani calls his men from UP to talk about Maya

Sources said those slated to be summoned for consultations are general secretary Rajnath Singh, state unit in-charge Kalraj Mishra, state BJP president Vinay Katiyar, leader of the BJP legislature party Lalji Tandon and senior minister Om Prakash Singh. Advani would be assisted by BJP chief M. Venkaiah Naidu.

A resolution of differences with Mayawati may not end the BJP problems. It has a lot more to do to set its house in order. Even on the Raja Bhaiyya issue, the party is clearly divided.

While Rajnath Singh and Vinay Katiyar have publicly opposed the use of POTA, Tandon is yet to do so.

While skirting the POTA issue, Tandon attacked Raja Bhaiyya on another issue today. Speaking to journalists at Bahraich, he charged him with an attempt to break the BJP after the expansion of the Mayawati ministry last year.

Rajnath and Katiyar are worried about the sagging BJP image among Rajputs. In a state where politics revolves around casteism, it would be no surprise if the Rajputs turn against the BJP for having failed to check Mayawati in her campaign against Bhaiyya.

Tandon, who shares power with the CM, is obviously interested in continuing the present arrangement. Advani has to reconcile the conflicting interests.