Rebels step up Oust Kalyan8217; demand

LUCKNOW, April 23: Dissidents in the BJP-led coalition government in Uttar Pradesh have launched a fresh campaign to oust Chief Minister Kalyan Singh, saying that BJP8217;s popularity in the State was declining under his leadership.

The rebels, who claim to have support of 59 MLAs and six MLCs, held a meeting here late last night and decided to go ahead with their campaign to seek Singh8217;s removal.

Rajesh Pandey, spokesman for the rebel group, told PTI that the number of dissidents was rising and 8220;more legislators are waiting to come out openly against Kalyan Singh8217;s style of functioning.8221;

Another round of rebel group8217;s meeting is slated for April 27 at Kanpur after which the dissident MLAs may once again go to Delhi to renew their demand for a change of guard in Uttar Pradesh in the larger interests of the party,8221; he said.