In a seemingly belligerent mood, an upbeat Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati today met Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani and criticised the the manner in which state BJP leaders were rubbishing her government in public. Coming out of the hour-long meeting with the DPM, Mayawati said: ‘‘This business of the state BJP leaders running to the press with every little problem has to stop and he (Advani) has agreed. I told Advaniji, if they have a complaint why don’t they come to me?’’ Advani, sources said, promised Mayawati that a one-to-one meeting between her and warring state BJP leaders would be organised soon. At the same time, he also asked her to apprise the coalition before taking major any decision, including the transfer of high-ranking bureaucrats in the state. With the VHP-Ayodhya issue hanging over the head of the government, sources said, that the Central leadership is ‘‘very keen not to upset Mayawati at this juncture.’’ Advani’s meeting today with Mayawati was scheduled after Vijay Katiyar, the BJP UP chief, openly targeted Mayawati at a recent BJP workers’ rally ignoring directions from the BJP central leadership to stay cool. Sources said the Prime Minister had asked his deputy to sort out the matter with Mayawati after Katiyar refused toe the Centre’s line following the arrest of Independent MLA Raja Bhaiya and his father Udai Pratap Singh. Even though sustained airing of criticism by senior BJP leaders, especially Katiyar and Singh, has embarrassed the central leadership, the fact remains that the state leaders fear that Mayawati’s ‘‘vindictiveness’’ against Raja Bhaiya will have serious repercussion on the BJP’s Thakur vote-bank. Giving a rather positive signal, Mayawati said, ‘‘I suggested to the Deputy Prime Minister that he call me and his party leaders from the state together so that any problem they have can be sorted out right away. But first, they have to stop targeting the coalition government led my me.’’
