New Delhi, Sept 03: Having decided not to play spoilsport in government formation by Samajawadi Party Chief Mulayam Singh Yadav in Uttar Pradesh, the BJP appears caught in a bind on the stand to be taken on vote of confidence to be sought by the Chief Minister in the state assembly on September eight. For the second successive day, party spokesman Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told reporters here today that he was not in a position to say if BJP would issue a whip to its MLAs on the issue and reiterated a meeting of central office-bearers with party leaders from UP on Sept 5 would take a decision. "The meeting on September five to be attended by Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani, party president M Venkaiah Naidu and state leaders would finalise the strategy for the vote of confidence," he said. It would also be attended by Agriculture Minister Rajnath Singh, State Unit President Vinay Katiyar, UP in charge Kalraj Mishra and leader of the BJP Legislature Party Lalji Tandon. Asked whether the party would issue a whip to vote against the confidence motion, he said "we will play the role of a constructive opposition. We are ready for any situation in the state."

Bureau Report