According to informed sources, Congress leader Arjun Singh started a frantic search for Kanshi Ram after Mayawati announced on the night of April 16 that his party would abstain rather than vote against the government. The BSP's abstentions would have saved the government.

Mayawati's stance was at variance with the assurance Kanshi Ram had given to the Congress before leaving on a 8-day tour of Bihar on April 14. Though Kanshi Ram was staying at the Patliputra Hotel in Patna, he had hired a chopper to tour the state. When Kanshi Ram could be traced at about 1.30 am in his hotel room, he expressed his inability to do anything at that late stage.

Kanshi Ram rather complained that his experience with the Congress in Madhya Pradesh had been bitter. The State Chief Minister, Digvijay Singh, instead of honouring his election-eve promises said in a statement that``Kanshi has become irrelevant in MP.''

When Arjun Singh said it was not Digvijay Singh's show but Sonia's and problems could be taken care of later, Kanshi Ram telephoned Mayawati. She reportedly told Kanshi Ram about her talks with BJP leader Rajnath Singh in the Central Hall of the Parliament and also of telephonic discussions with Pramod Mahajan on future shape of the UP government.

Kanshi Ram explained to the Congress that the situation was beyond control and he could not do anything. However, after a lot of cajoling Kanshi Ram agreed to catch the first flight in the morning to Delhi.

Kanshi Ram suggested that Sonia should speak to Mayawati who had been hurt that except for a junior leader like Ajit Jogi none of the senior party leaders had contacted her Sonia is reported to have spoken to Mayawati in the early hours of the day, requesting her to change her stand.

Arjun Singh had also told Kanshi Ram that an aircraft could be arranged in the morning itself if he failed to get the IA ticket toreach Delhi. An aircraft belonging to Span Aviations was key ready in Delhi to bring Kanshi to Capital. Strangely, Kanshi Ram did not inform Mayawati of his plans to reach Delhi. It was only at 7 a.m. on April 17, before boarding the flight that he telephoned Mayawati to receive him at airport. Mayawati reached at the airport at 9.20 am.

Kanshi Ram held consultations with Mayawati in the VIP lounge as soon as the flight arrived. Meanwhile, the BJP got wind of this development and Pramod Mahajan rang up Kanshi Ram and made him to speak to the Prime Minister. When Kanshi Ram reached his Humayun Road residence with Mayawati, she reiterated in front of waiting journalists that the BSP would abstain. Thereafter, Kanshi Ram and Mayawati went into a huddle. The plans were kept a closely guarded secret. Kanshi Ram is flying back tonight to continue his Bihar tour. But it is certain that problems for Digvijay Singh have begun.