UP CM Gupta breathes easy as Kalyan drops threat

Gupta has also launched a drive to minimise possible damage to the party by Kalyan’s open rebellion. He has begun meeting party MLAs division-wise. On Wednesday, he held a long meeting with MLAs and MLCs of Kalyan’s area Etah, Itawa, Farrukhabad, Mainpuri, Aligarh and Agra. In the meeting, 42 MLAs and 11 MLCs, except Kailash Rajput, were present. Even MLAs Ram Sakhi and Malkhan Singh, considered close to Kalyan, attended. In fact, Gupta has made it a point to meet Kalyan’s loyalistsso that they do not feel neglected.The Chief Minister is planning to continue meeting party MLAs till December 7.

Party national general secretary Govindacharya has been assigned the job of keeping the organisation intact. He held a meeting of party leaders at Kanpur yesterday and will be touring the entire state and holding similar meetings.

Regarding the two leaders sent by the high command for talks with Kalyan, Dinanath Mishra and Balbir Punj, the Chief Minister said he did not know the purpose of their visit to the city. Union Minister for Surface Transport and state party president Rajnath Singh too denied knowledge about it.

However, according to reliable sources, Rajnath Singh had talks with them after they returned from Kalyan’s residence late on Wednesday evening. Punj and Mishra, who have returned to Delhi, reportedly conveyed to Kalyan Home Minister L K Advani’s advice to stop attacking Vajpayee. Kalyan himself is said to be busy writing a reply to the show-cause notice served on him bythe party and refused to meet mediapersons yesterday.