As party MLAs attack UP CM, he relies on allies' support

As party MLAs attack UP CM, he relies on allies' support
AMIT SHARMA

LUCKNOW, JULY 21: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Ram Prakash Gupta may have his fair share of detractors among his party's MLAs but the allies in the coalition are certainly in no hurry to withdraw support.

``For us, Gupta is the only leader in the BJP we want to deal with. We are not interested in talking to middlemen. As far as we are concerned, we have extended support to the BJP government and not to the party organisation,'' said Naresh Agarwal, chief of the Loktantrik Congress Party and state Energy Minister.

His vote of confidence came soon after he met Gupta with other MLAs of his party and ministerial colleagues in the Janata Dal (R) and Independent members today afternoon.

Agarwal was taking a dig at state BJP chief Om Prakash Singh, who said earlier that ministers should resign before making adverse remarks about the government.

Their meeting with the Chief Minister was a well-calculated move on Agarwal's part, apparently in a bid to ward off further trouble after BJP MLA from Hardoi Ganga Singh Chauhan accused Agarwal of instigating the brutal attack on his family earlier this week in which his wife was killed.

Chauhan's remarks also put the state government and the BJP organiasation on a collision course which could have far-reaching political consequences. A section of BJP legislators have been demanding Agarwal's dismissal but Gupta, knowing that he needs support from the allies to continue in power, is doing his best to placate the disgruntled MLAs.

However, he has virtually given Agarwal a clean chit and has not taken any action against the then SP of Hardoi, who has also been named in the FIR, accused of hatching a conspiracy to assault Chauhan and his family.

The injured legislator has become the centre of political activity despitethe fact that he even cannot move from his hospital bed due to severe injuries.

Nearly two dozen BJP MLAs have been pressuring the CM for immediate action against Agarwal and the then Hardoi SP.

On his part, Agarwal is doing his best to keep his distance from the accusations: ``I have also asked the Chief Minister that any report on investigations in the Hardoi case should be tabled on the floor of the House and be made a public document so that everybody can judge the authenticity of the allegations the injured MLA has made against me,'' he said.

Gupta's recent remarks on the issue, meanwhile, have made it clear that he wants to ensure that his allies are kept happy, even if it means going up against his party's MLAs. ``No legislator has so far told me anything about action against Naresh Agarwal. The then Hardoi SP can also not be suspended unless I get a report,'' Gupta said today, adding that he had personally talked to party leaders at the Centre to ensure that the CBI probe into the case begins soon.