Sleepless Sunday in Lucknow

The Uttar Pradesh capital was jolted out of slumber by hectic activities on Sunday, a day before the Bahujan Samaj Party workers8217; conve...

The Uttar Pradesh capital was jolted out of slumber by hectic activities on Sunday, a day before the Bahujan Samaj Party workers8217; convention here. Corridors of power were abuzz with rumours about a possible dissolution of the Assembly and four top BJP leaders drove to the Raj Bhavan and held discussions with the Governor Vishnu Kant Shastri late on Sunday night.

What made the BJP panic was Mayawati8217;s decision to advance the cabinet meeting to Monday, an hour before her convention the meetings are usually held on Wednesdays. To add to her partner8217;s worry, she told reporters today that the media would get 8216;8216;lots of spicy news8217;8217; at the convention tomorrow.

8216;8216;Come to the venue of the convention in full gear and telecast it live. You will get lots of spicy news there,8217;8217; she said after dedicating the Ambedkar Memorial Centre and Museum to the people.

Only a Cabinet meeting can decide on dissolving the House. The Chief Minister, however, asked the media not to draw any political inference from the cabinet meeting and said such meetings were routine and they could be advanced or deferred depending on availability of time.

But the BJP is not so sure. That8217;s why state BJP President Vinay Katiyar, BJP Legislature Party leader Lalji Tandon, senior minister Om Prakash Singh and party MP Kalraj Mishra called on the Governor just before midnight.

There is speculation that the top BharatiyaJanata Party leaders met the governor to 8216;8216;pre-empt8217;8217; any 8216;8216;adventurous8217;8217; action on the part of the chief minister. Mayawati had a meeting last night with party chief Kanshi Ram on the prevailing political situation in the state.

What sparked off Sunday8217;s spurt of activities was perhaps the CBI8217;s interrogation of Mayawati8217;s favourite minister Nasimuddin Siddique on the Taj Heritage Corridor issue.

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There are also indications that the agency might interrogate the Chief Minister herself or her principal secretary, P L Punia.

State BJP leaders were taken aback by the decision of advancing the cabinet meeting and held meetings at various levels today to decide their course of action. State Urban

Development Minister Lalji Tandon had earlier met the Governor to give him 8216;8216;the message8217;8217; that her request for a dissolution of the House should not be entertained.

8216;8216;There is no threat to the coalition government in the state but the possibility of any eventuality cannot be ruled out in politics,8217;8217; said Katiyar.

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The Bharatiya Janata Party leaders also discussed the issue with Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani earlier in the day and told him that Mayawati8217;s unpredictable nature should be taken note of in the wake of the Taj issue. with PTI reports