Lucknow, Feb 04: Twelve ministers of the Mayavati-led Uttar Pradesh government have resigned to make way for the expansion of the ministry scheduled for the evening today. Of the 12 ministers, eight were of Cabinet rank and four were ministers of state. The ministers who have tendered their resignation are: Dayacharan Dinkar, Omprakash, Abdul Mannan, Sharda Prasad, Ram Achal Rajbhar, Ayodhya Prasad Pal, Ramhet, Anees Ahmed Khan, Hajji Yakub, Eelem Singh, Mahendra Singh and Ram Bhual Nishad. Meanwhile, Bahujan Samajwadi Party (BSP) sources here said the resignations were devoid of any political implication and were meant to accommodate the four legislators of the newly formed Akhil Bharatiya Congress Dal. With the addition of these four legislators, the BSP`s strength has for the first time in the annals of UP assembly crossed the 100 figure.
BSP`s strength has now risen to 103 in the 401 members state assembly.
Bsp was formed in 1986 but it gained political stature in 1993 when it won 67 seats contesting election as an ally of Samajwadi Party.
In the 2002 Assembly election, BSP contested on its own and won 98 seats and this figure was increased by one after it wrested Bahedi seat from Samajwadi Party in the last bye-election.
Samajwadi party with 142 seats is still the largest party in the House followed by BSP (103), BJP (87), Congress (16), Rashtriya Lok Dal (14), RKP (4), Apna D(3), CPM (2), Loktantrick Congress Party (2), others (7), Independent (16), vacant (2) and nominated (1). Bureau Report