BJP to cut losses: Whip against Mulayam

As the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) grappled with the prospect of a split in its UP unit, the BJP leadership here today took two important decisions to position itself as the key Opposition player in the assembly. One, it will vote against the confidence motion to be moved by Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav on September 8. Two, the party will not stake its claim to form a government if the motion is defeated.

FIR filed against BSP MLA

KAUSHAMBI: District police on Friday filed an FIR against local BSP MLA Matesh Sonkar and his supporters for forcibly freeing two undertrials from Saini police station lock-up on Thursday. A police spokesman said raids were conducted at the residences of the MLA and his supporters, adding that guns and cartridges were recovered from there. Sonkar’s father has also been arrested, they said and denied that the action was politically motivated in any way. (Agencies)

BJP general secretary Pramod Mahajan announced after a meeting of the party top-brass: ‘‘We will issue a whip to our MLAs to ensure that they vote against the motion. We will play the role of an effective and constructive opposition.’’

The decision is also meant to scotch speculation that Mulayam’s coronation had the blessings of the BJP high command. If any move by either or both lends credence to this speculation, both the BJP and Samajwadi Party would lose their face and mass support.

Muslims would desert Yadav in such an eventuality. Sangh Parivar rank and file would never pardon the BJP leadership for shaking hands with somebody who has the blood of ‘‘kar sevaks’’ on his hands.

Sources said that Rajnath had been of the view that there was no need for issuing a whip. It could unnecesarily lead to the possibility of a split. Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani, on he other hand, felt that the same fears had been raised when the party decided to pull out of the Mayawati Government. He took the line that the party must function as a vibrant opposition. Everybody concurred.

The BJP is trying to make the best of a bad situation. Having lost power, it is targeting the Opposition space. A ‘‘Maulana Mulayam’’ in power suits it the most in its new role. Its entire gameplan would be through if BSP splits and Mayawati gets embroiled in legal wrangles and the Congress joins Mulayam.

By deciding to vote against Mulayam, the BJP has also kept its doors open to Mayawati. Both sides have avoided using strong words against each other. Nothing would suit the BJP more than a weakened Mayawati. Come the Lok Sabha polls, a BJP-BSP alliance may be back on the UP scene.

Today’s meeting, held at the residence of BJP president M Venkaiah Naidu, was attended by the top brass, including Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani, Human Resources Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi and Agriculture Minister Rajnath Singh, central in-charge of the state Kalraj Mishra, state chief Vinay Katiyar and legislature party leader Lalji Tandon.