The Hindu : 3 rebel BJP MLAs to face disqualification proceedings

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jan 18, 2003

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National

3 rebel BJP MLAs to face disqualification proceedings

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI JAN. 17. To send out a strong message to all its MLAs across the country that indiscipline will not be tolerated, the Bharatiya Janata Party leadership here seems to have decided that three of its rebel MLAs in Uttar Pradesh will face disqualification proceedings.

For nearly two months now, since rebellion surfaced in Uttar Pradesh, the party has been coaxing its MLAs to come back after apologising publicly.

To a large extent, it has succeeded in limiting the damage as a number of the dissidents have "returned home.''

However, the three MLAs and one MLC are likely to be proceeded against by the Assembly Speaker after the BJP leadership gives the go-ahead.

The view here is that some stern action against a few will send the correct message to all. If no action were to be taken against any of the rebels, it would encourage similar episodes in other States and send out the message that the party leadership is weak and vulnerable.

A senior party leader here disclosed that the leadership had made up its mind to proceed against the three MLAs. The resulting dent in the party strength in the Assembly would be too small to adversely affect the stability of the ruling coalition, it has been calculated.

But this is only one aspect of the party's problems in Uttar Pradesh. The president of the State unit, Vinay Katiyar, is reported to have once again indicated his intention to continue with his ``yatra'' to "educate'' people on Ambedkar's views though the Bahujan Samaj Party, leader of the coalition, has objected to his "misquoting and misrepresenting" Ambedkar.

Although the BJP has no political option but to ensure that the Mayawati Government continues in office, at least till the crucial 2004 Lok Sabha elections, it is also in a hurry to increase its popular support base for the general election.

For this, it seems to have decided to continue keeping Ms. Mayawati happy by ignoring "small things'' such as collection of funds for her recent birthday celebrations or even the large-scale transfer of officials. At the same time, Mr. Katiyar has been given a free hand to spread the BJP's political message, even if it means twisting Ambedkar out of context.

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