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4 more RLD MLAs from UP reach J&K

Srinagar, June 3
Another four Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) MLAs from Uttar Pradesh arrived here today to join their nine colleagues, already here, to foil “poaching” by the BSP BJP government following withdrawal of their party’s support to the Mayawati government.

The four RLD MLAs, who arrived here, are Mr Pratap Choudhry, Mr Virendra Singh, Mr Ranveer Singh and Mr Kuka Bhai Hamid, sources said.

All 13 MLAs reportedly were headed for places of tourist interest like the Mughal Gardens. They might go to Pahalgam health resort later in the day, the sources said.

Headed by Mr Samar Pal Singh, the MLAs who arrived yesterday drove straight to a five-star hotel overlooking the famous Dal Lake, the sources said.

Besides Mr Singh, the group comprising Choudhary Babu Lal, Jaswant Singh, Tej Pal, Ganga Prasad Pushkar, Ajay Kumar, Prem Singh, Raj Pal Singh and Swammi Omvesh were sent here following fears that UP Chief Minister Mayawati might try to engineer a defection to overcome the crisis.

The 14-member RLD withdrew support to the Mayawati government last week after RLD chief Ajit Singh resigned from the Union Cabinet, plunging the BSP BJP coalition in a crisis.

The RLD MLAs arrived here a day after Congress President Sonia Gandhi concluded her three day visit to the valley during which the party assessed the working of her Chief Ministers at a two day conclave. She had said her party was not averse joining hands with Mr Mulayam Singh’s Samajwadi Party and the RLD. PTI