Even as the BJP patted its back over the victory march in three states, its flock in the state Assembly became a ‘‘laughing stock’’ when Leader of Opposition Lalji Tandon objected to the way his partymen stormed the well of the House to protest against the ‘‘apathy’’ of the Mulayam Singh government.This was the first time in the record of the state Assembly that a Leader of Opposition was condemning the conduct of his party legislators on an issue concerning the common man. Tandon protested when BJP legislators — highlighting the woes of sugarcane-growers as the minimum support price for the crop has not been announced so far — trooped into the well. ‘‘I have always been against MLAs entering the well of the House but today some of my colleagues did exactly what I disapprove of. I request the Speaker to direct journalists not to publish any item about my colleagues, their behaviour, or what they said,’’ Tandon told Speaker Kesari Nath Tripathi, who incidentally also belongs to the BJP.The BJP MLAs were visibly upset over their leader’s stance, which betrayed an inclination towards the Chief Minister. The Speaker came to Tandon’s rescue and asked him to speak on the sugarcane problem instead. ‘‘Entering the well is a legislative method of voicing one’s protest and Tandon, it seems, is not aware of this. He has subjected us to ridicule and we will definitely bring this to the notice of our party high command. The BJP legislature party is being reduced to a laughing stock because of the leadership,’’ said a BJP MLA.‘‘With such leadership, we will soon be competing with the Congress for the fourth position in UP. Tandon has created a legislative record of sorts by calling for action against his own party legislators and should be rewarded with some even more senior position,’’ said a former BJP minister. Trouble began as soon as the Assembly was convened with BJP MLAs seeking adjournment of rules for a debate on problems faced by the sugarcane industry. They stormed the well, forcing the Speaker to adjourn till 12.20 pm. When the House re-assembled, Tandon criticised the behaviour of his colleagues.
