The threat to the Mayawati government subsided further today as BJP rebels in Uttar Pradesh said they were ready to talk to the party’s central leadership if the suspensions of two legislators were revoked.BJP national general secretary Rajnath Singh, who met the dissidents at the house of suspended MLA Ganga Bhakt Singh, said the central leaders had been informed of the demands. ‘‘I requested them to talk to the central leadership and also heard their grievances,’’ he told mediapersons after the meeting. Anil Verma, a rebel MLA, said: ‘‘We will not talk with anyone unless the suspension of the two senior leaders is revoked.’’Rajnath’s version of the day’s developments was contradicted by state unit leader Lalji Tandon. He said while the doors for talks with the central leadership were always open, there was no question of revoking the suspensions of the two legislators unless they sent in an apology. Tandon admitted for the first time that the state’s social equations could not be taken care of in the recent Cabinet expansion. He hinted that ‘‘the error’’ would be taken care of soon. Meanwhile, Mayawati indicated that she was ready to arrange for legislators from other quarters if a vote of confidence was inevitable. Charges put on expelled Congress MLA Akhilesh Singh under the National Security Act were withdrawn today. Sources said other legislators whose support could be bartered for concessions are being identified.Both the SP and the BJP today presented before the media legislators who, they claimed, were being offered money and other gains to switch loyalties. While the Samajwadi Party paraded three legislators, who alleged they were offered Rs 1 crore and a ministerial berth on behalf of Tandon, a BJP legislator claimed he was offered Rs 50 lakh to join the dissidents. Both the parties have been denying horse-trading.
