Lucknow, Apr 30: With ties between BSP and BJP, Uttar Pradesh's ruling coalition partners, already frayed, a booklet released by Mayawati government to mark completion of its first year in office has further annoyed the saffron party. The booklet, listing the achievement of Mayawati government, says Mayawati had inherited a state, which was in a poor financial health with worsening law and order situation and acute shortage of power -- a virtual indictment of the previous Rajnath Singh government.

Singh has had reservations about BJP's tie-up with BSP and criticised Mayawati government on a host of issues, including arrest of independent MLA Raja Bhaiyya under Pota and filing of cases against Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav.

Mayawati, in turn, had attacked Rajnath Singh for coming in defence of Mulayam Singh Yadav on the issue of the use of chief minister's discretionary fund. The booklet, released by the information department, carried a picture of B R Ambedkar and the slogan "Unki Disha: Prayas Hamare" (Ambedkar's direction and our efforts).

But there is no picture of BJP ideologues Deen Dayal Upadhyaya and Shyama Prasad Mukherjee nor do their names find mention anywhere in the booklet released by the information department recently.

It showers praise on Mayawati for "leading the state into prosperity by tiding over financial crisis, tough administration, bringing about social equality and industrial development." State BJP leaders have taken exception to the exclusion of the party ideologues from the booklet saying it appears as if the government was being run by BSP only.

Further, depiction of the picture of Ambedkar on the cover page of the booklet reflected as if the government was implementing the agenda of BSP only and not BJP, the leaders said preferring anonymity.

State BJP president Vinay Katiyar, who was reportedly asked by the party's central leadership to tone down his criticism of Mayawati government on a range of issues, declined to comment on the issue. BJP grassroot workers have time and again complained that their grievances were not being addressed by the officials at district levels.

The issue has been raised by senior BJP leaders with the chief minister on several occasions.

Bureau Report