Kalyan’s son, Kusum Rai quit UP Cabinet

‘‘Jahan engine, wahan dibbe (The coaches will go with the engine),’’ said Kalyan Singh’s protege and PWD minister K...

‘‘Jahan engine, wahan dibbe (The coaches will go with the engine),’’ said Kalyan Singh’s protege and PWD minister Kusum Rai soon after her mentor was escorted to New Delhi by BJP general secretary Pramod Mahajan this afternoon.

Later today, Kalyan’s son Rajbir Singh and Rai, RKP’s two ministers in the UP government, submitted their resignations to Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav. ‘‘Now our leader has joined the BJP, there is no point in us continuing in the Mulayam ministry,’’ said Rai.

Mulayam said Kalyan Singh’s decision to quit the ruling alliance would not have any impact on his government. ‘‘I continue to share a good relationship with Kalyan Singh…I will never block the path of his progress though I will work for the destruction of communal forces,’’ he said.

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The state capital witnessed high drama as BJP general secretary and Rajya Sabha MPs Balbir Punj and Dinanath Mishra arrived at Kalyan’s residence at around 1 pm. Reporters were let in only when BJP Legislature Party leader Lalji Tandon reached the residence.

Kalyan will have to overhaul the party from where he left of in 1999. Infighting has already demoralised cadres in the state unit. Already, leaders are not happy with the party leadership’s go-ahead for Kusum Rai’s return.

Parichay Kumar, Superintendent of Police (Patna East), who reached the spot, said: "We have been talking to the driver of Rajkumar Yadav. Prima facie, it looks to be a case of land dispute and money transactions."

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