After the protests within the BJP, another snag hit the formation of a coalition government headed by Mayawati in Uttar Pradesh. Rashtriya Janata Dal (RLD) chief Ajit Singh, whose support is vital, today denied writing to UP Governor Vishnu Kant Shastri that he has extended support. Singh, after a meeting of the 14-member RLD legislature party, said he has asked Shastri to consult the party before inviting anybody to take oath as chief minister. ‘‘It is not possible for anyone to form a government without us. Those who wish to form a government should talk to us,’’ he said. The BSP has 97 members and the BJP has 88. The 403-member House has an effective strength of 400. The BJP-BSP combine will need 16 MLAs to touch the 201-mark. Though the BJP has the backing of five Janata Dal (U) MLAs, the Lok Janshakti Party and the Hindu Mahasabha and the BSP the support of two Independents, the alliance will need the RLD for long-term stability. Sources in the RLD said the party is angry with the BJP and the BSP for taking its support for granted. He wants to keep Mayawati on the edge just when she seems close to becoming chief minister. As a senior RLD leader said: ‘‘Ab zara Mayawati ko daur lagane do. Humare ghar bhi to aaye. (Let Mayawati run around a bit now. Let her come to our place too.)’’ RLD legislature party leader Kokab Hamid said the party would insist on including their demand for the state of Harit Pradesh, comprising the western districts of UP, the common agenda of a coalition. RLD spokesman Anoop Chaudhry said the party wanted a co-ordination committee on the pattern of the NDA. Meanwhile, UP BJP president Kalraj Mishra claimed in Lucknow that the NDA partners of the BJP were ready to participate in the BJP-BSP government. ‘‘We will meet with partners after the BJP parliamentary board meeting to discuss the strategy and other issues for the government,’’ he said. Senior UP BJP leader Om Prakash Singh said the party will talk to the RLD only after finalising the deal with the BSP.”
