Maya maha ‘vendetta’: BJP concerned

PTI quoted state BJP president Vinay Katiyar, a known detractor of Mayawati, as saying that the slapping of 137 cases against Mulayam and his men by the government, with more to come, did not augur well for the state. ‘‘Despite political differences, leaders have been avoiding negative criticism for the sake of the state. The trend has changed now.’’ He even went on to say: ‘‘It is difficult for me to decide with whom I should side.’’

During her Mahapardafash rally yesterday, Mayawati had also ordered a probe into the disbursal of nearly Rs 18 crore from the CM’s discretionary fund during Congress general secretary Motilal Vora’s tenure as governor for eight months.

Vora specially flew to Lucknow today to counter the charges levelled against him. ‘‘She is simply unaware of the Constitution, in which it is specially mentioned that no one can raise an accusing finger at governors,’’ he said. ‘‘I am prepared to face an inquiry if she wants to drag the gubernatorial post into a political controversy. The charges are politically motivated as I had released the amount as per my discretion, which cannot be challenged.’’

Former chief minister and leader of the Rashtriya Kranti Party (RKP) Kalyan Singh also expressed concern at the way politics in the state was heading. ‘‘We should be ready to witness Tamil Nadu type of politics where each chief minister pushes his predecessor into jail and the game continues. She has just lodged the FIR against Mulayam and others but any further action (jail) is likely to lead to a caste war in the state, which could have dangerous repercussions,’’ feared Kalyan.

Mayawati’s threat to embrace Buddhism along with BSP supporters has also upset the political calculations of the Sangh Parivar.

The saffron brigade was hopeful of forging a Hindu unity involving Dalits and upper caste members on the Ram temple issue and for this purpose, the continuation of the coalition with Mayawati is essential. Mayawati’s threat, while addressing the rally, to ‘‘embrace Buddhism if the prevailing inequalities in Hinduism are not removed without further delay’’, was definitely not what the BJP hoped to hear.