Lucknow, November 7
Rebel BSP legislator Jai Prakash Yadav, who met Uttar Pradesh Governor Vishnu Kant Shastri alleging ‘victimisation’ at the hands of the Mayawati government, was today suspended from the party.
BSP sources said Mr Yadav, who met the Governor with rebel BJP MLA Ravindra Pundir and demanded the convening of a special Assembly session, was suspended on charges of indiscipline by the party high command.
Accompanied by Mr Pundir, Mr Yadav, who represents Dhuriapaar constituency, met the Governor this morning. He alleged his victimisation at the behest of the Chief Minister and submitted a memorandum, demanding the convening of a special session in which the government should seek a confidence vote.
Talking to mediapersons, he later said a case had been filed against him at the Gola police station after he had reached late at a BSP meeting convened by Ms Mayawati recently.
“The Chief Minister got angry with me as I reached late at the meeting and a fake case was filed against me at her behest,” Mr Yadav said, accusing Ms Mayawati of “running the party like a dictator”.
Mr Yadav said although the Governor had not given him any assurance, he had told him that the government was working in an “undemocratic and unconstitutional manner and victimising all those expressing their views against it.”
Mr Pundir claimed that about 50 BSP MLAs were “fed up” of Ms Mayawati and were ready to join the rebel ranks.
Two criminal cases, including one relating to a property dispute, were filed against Mr Yadav at Belghat and Barhalgan police stations in Maharajganj district yesterday, an official release here said.
Shortly after his suspension, Mr Yadav said he was not going to be cowed down even if Ms Mayawati slapped 50,000 cases on him.
He claimed that several legislators in the BSP were forced to tolerate Ms Mayawati’s “errant behaviour”.
NEW DELHI: Claiming majority for her coalition government in the state, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Thursday denied any resentment was brewing in the BSP and said police action against party MLA Jai Prakash Yadav was initiated at her behest following complaints of physical threats by people from his constituency.
“It is true that Jai Prakash Yadav, party MLA from Dhuriapar Assembly constituency in Gorakhpur district has joined
BJP rebels. But my government will not spare anyone, including party MLAs or MPs, if they indulge in unlawful activities”, she told reporters here.
The BSP leader said she had received complaints against Mr Yadav from various persons, following which FIRs had been filed against him when district police officials informed her about his activities.
“To save himself from police arrest, Yadav is now trying to associate himself with rebels”, Ms Mayawati said, adding that he would not escape arrest as the police was searching him in Uttar Pradesh and in Delhi.
The candidature of BJP spokesman Sunil Shastri for the Rajya Sabha received a boost when Ms Mayawati said the seat, which fell vacant following the resignation of Mr T.N. Chaturvedi, was a BJP seat and her party would extend support to any candidate fielded by the coalition partner.
Denying reports that she was here to meet Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani, Ms Mayawati said she had come here to meet the Election Commission and submit her party reports about the Jammu and Kashmir elections.
“I am not here to discuss the Uttar Pradesh crisis with anyone. The BSP is a national party. I came here to submit party report on expenditure during the Jammu and Kashmir poll”, she said. Asked about her reported threat of calling for snap poll in Uttar Pradesh, Ms Mayawati said she had meant that there was no other option but a snap poll if such a situation continued for long.
Pointing out that the Governor had given “enough time” to the Samajwadi Party to form a government soon after the state elections, but he could not do so, she questioned the basis of the Samajwadi Party’s claims on majority support now.
“From where has he got 204 MLAs”, she asked. About convening of the state Assembly, the Chief Minister said where was the need for such a move when the BSP-BJP coalition enjoyed absolute majority.
With regard to Independent MLAs Raja Bhaiya and Dhanajay Singh, action had been initiated following an FIR against them, which said they were
allegedly involved in the kidnapping of certain MLAs, she said.
