UP BJP seeks Kalyan8217;s ouster

Interestingly, all these leaders are OBCs, a category to which Singh himself belongs. But all of them are strongly opposed to the beleaguered Chief Minister. And, to top it all, four of them blame him for their defeat in the just-concluded Lok Sabha elections.

These include former Union minister Satyapal Singh Yadav, former Chandauli MP Anand Ratna Maurya, party candidate from Farrukhabad Ram Baksh Varma, and Darshan Singh Yadav who had contested from Sambhal. The fifth is a sitting MLA, Avadh Pal Singh Yadav.

The five State leaders, it is learnt, urged the RSS strongman to expedite Singh8217;s exit. They also sought to block attempts by Singh to name a person of his choice as his successor. They were referring to media reports which suggested that Singh had set a pre-condition for his elevation to the Centre 8212; that he be replaced by Irrigation Minister Om Prakash Singh, a kurmi leader.

The RSS leader is learnt to have given them a patient hearing, without reacting at any point. The five leaders were also reported to have recommended State BJP president Rajnath Singh for the CM8217;s post.