New Delhi, October 30
Concerned over drift in the party in the biggest state, the BJP today said it was open to revoking the suspension of two rebel legislators provided they explained their conduct and made amends, if necessary.

The party, however, ruled out any change in the state leadership.

Party General Secretary and spokesman Arun Jaitley told reporters here that senior party leader Kushabhau Thakre has been rushed to Lucknow to “guide the state leadership” in dealing with the situation.

The party leadership had earlier sent former UP Chief Minister and General Secretary Rajnath Singh for discussions with the rebels to resolve the situation.

Mr Thakre is a contemporary of dissident leader Ganga Bhakt Singh who has been suspended along with Mr Ramashish Rai from the party.

Sources said Mr Ganga Bhakt Singh had been a pracharak in the RSS along with Mr Thakre. He was one of the few sent by the RSS to the Jana Sangh in 1951 when it was formed, to work in UP.

Mr Thakre was at that time sent to Madhya Pradesh to work for the Jana Sangh.

The other rebel leader, Mr Rai, was appointed President of the Bharatiya Yuva Janata Morcha by Mr Thakre.

The party leadership was confident that Mr Thakre would be able to persuade Mr Ganga Bhakt Singh and other dissidents to give up their protest and convince them that their grievances would be looked into.

Mr Ganga Bhakt Singh, a Rajput, was said to be annoyed with the party leadership for not giving any representation to the community in the BSP-BJP coalition government. The dissidents were also unhappy about their non-inclusion in the Mayawati ministry and accused her of appointing much junior party men as ministers.