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Mayawati tries to keep flock together
In an attempt to keep her flock together, Chief Minister Mayawati has assured the legislators, who have been denied tickets for 2012 Assembly elections, seats in Vidhan Parishad and Rajya Sabha.
The legislators were repeatedly told that the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) would not betray them. They would be honoured at the appropriate time and would be accommodated either in Vidhan Parishad or in the Rajya Sabha.
Assurance came after reports of resentment brewing among the legislators who were denied tickets came to light. Political circles believe that these legislators were in touch with the main Opposition party Samajwadi Party and a few were even contemplating to join the BJP.
A highly placed source told The Pioneer here on Tuesday that the Chief Minister addressed this problem in the legislators’ meeting held on Sunday. She spoke for almost 20 minutes on this issue. “Mayawati tried to convince the legislators that the party was forced to take this drastic step following change in their constituency profile due to delimitation. She even said that they would be suitably compensated in future for their sacrifice towards party,” the BSP source said.
Just before going to polls Mayawati seems to be shaky. She cannot afford exodus of legislators from the party. The decision to revoke the expulsion of three senior leaders - Dhananjay Singh, Ashok Dohre and Awadhpal Singh Yadav - is also seen in this light. Dhananjay, who is MP from Jaunpur, has been made convener of Kshetriya Bhaichara committee and has been given the task to bring Thakurs under the BSP umbrella.
It is believed that there are 52 legislators who have been denied ticket and are ready to join SP or BJP bandwagon. SP Chief whip in the State Assembly Ambika Chaudhry puts this figure at 70. “Just wait for few days. A large exodus is expected from BSP. Everyone wants to desert a sinking ship,” he said.
