While the BJP can ill afford to reshuffle its quota of ministers in Uttar Pradesh for fear of fresh rebellion, Chief Minister Mayawati has no such threats and will induct two Apna Dal legislators on Monday afternoon. This is the third time that the CM will be expanding her Ministry in the past one month. These MLAs had quit the Dal and later joined the BSP, a condition laid by Mayawati for any legislator willing to become a minister. The fresh additions will push the BSP’s strength to 110 (100 had been elected on the party symbol, seven had split from the Congress, one from Rashtriya Parivartan Party and two from Apna Dal). While BJP sources said the party was ready to replace its three ministers — Ram Prakash Tripathi (Cooperative), Ravi Gautam (Revenue) and Rajesh Agarwal (Trade Tax) — who were found ‘‘non-performing’’ during a secret survey conducted by the central leadership last month, it seems the trio have got a breather for the time being . ‘‘The BJP is not going to change its ministers,’’ state party chief Vinay Katiyar has said. There are also indications that Mayawati may upgrade some ministers to Cabinet rank and is likely to ask some of her party ministers to quit to make way for fresh entrants. ‘‘My doors are open for legislators. Many Samajwadi Party MLAs are in touch with the BSP. The right decision will be taken at the right time,’’ Mayawati had said while preparing for the vote of confidence last month.Amar Singh lands in Varanasi, dares CM to arrest himENS & agencies New Delhi/ Varanasi, APRIL 20: After being on the receiving end of her Mahapardafash, Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh today dared Chief Minister Mayawati by landing in Varanasi and challenging her to arrest him. ‘‘The Mayawati government had challenged me to come to Uttar Pradesh. So here I am with my feet on the soil of Varanasi.I did not go to Lucknow because Poorvanchal is my home state and I share a special rapport with the people there,’’ he told reporters. The visit came just a day after Mayawati apparently scaled down her drive against the SP, which began with 137 cases against its leaders in a single day. After Amar Singh got a stay against arrest, and other judicial observations frowned upon her actions, she said yesterday that she had told her officials not to arrest SP leaders and others named in FIRs filed in connection with ‘‘misuse’’ of the discretionary fund without getting clearance from courts. But the SP doesn’t believe she is capable of such niceties. At a press conference he held in the Capital yesterday, Amar Singh accused Mayawati of ‘‘hatching a conspiracy to liquidate’’ him, adding he had information that 12 criminals had been released from Aligarh Jail to physically harm him. He also said he had written to L.K. Advani about the threat to his life a month ago, but that the latter had merely acknowledged receiving it, without taking any action. Amar Singh accused Mayawati of turning the state’s politics into a ‘‘gangwar’’. ‘‘Her conduct is like that of a gang leader,’’ he said, ‘‘and it is not correct to equate her with J. Jayalalithaa as she has not filed over 500 cases in a single day.’’
