BJP hopes rebels will surrender

After threatening party rebels in Uttar Pradesh with disciplinary action yesterday, the BJP high command is now weighing its options before ...

After threatening party rebels in Uttar Pradesh with disciplinary action yesterday, the BJP high command is now weighing its options before cracking the whip.

Sources disclosed here today that BJP president M Venkaiah Naidu is keen on making an example out of two or three rebels by placing them under suspension, but wants to ensure that this does not accelerate the crisis.

Naidu, ideally, wants a decisive, but measured response to the rebellion. The two leaders on the high command hit-list are former minister Ganga Bakht Singh, MLA, and Ramasheesh Rai, MLC.

BJP general secretary Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said Naidu had asked central party in-charge of UP Kalraj Mishra and state party president Vinay Katiyar 8216;8216;to talk to rebels8217;8217; at Lucknow. 8216;8216;He would get a report from them tonight or by tomorrow morning.8217;8217; He said Naidu had asked them to take action if there is 8216;8216;a solid proof of a rebellion against any one.8217;8217;

Naidu obtained interim reports from both Mishra and Katiyar over the telephone tonight. The final reports are expected not before tomorrow evening. Naidu asked former chief minister Rajnath Singh also to rush to Lucknow and join the fire-fighting initiated by Mishra and Katiyar.

Singh, however, excused himself, wishing to stay away. He is apparently cut up over an effort by his detractors in the party to link him with the rebellion. He is, instead, scheduled to go to Orissa8217;s capital Bhubaneswar tomorrow.

The high command is actually waiting for the meeting of the 8216;8216;Bhajpa Bachao Samiti,8217;8217; an outfit floated by the rebels, slated for tomorrow at Lucknow. After having vowed to take a disciplinary action against rebels, it wants to gauge the level of attendance at the meeting.

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If the dissidents are not able to draw much support, the high command would single out those who participate in the meeting and initiate action against them.

Meanwhile, in Lucknow, the decision has further angered the rebels.

8216;8216;It has emboldened us to go ahead with the meeting of the Save BJP Managing Committee tomorrow. The decision of action against us is arbitrary as no senior leader has even discussed anything with us,8217;8217; said Ramashees Rai.

The 15 Independents, 13 of whom are making anti-Mayawati noises, are meeting on October 25.