Lucknow, Aug 10: Apprehending that it might further train its relationship with coalition partner BSP in Uttar Pradesh, the state leadership of the BJP has distanced itself from the demand for the deputy chief ministership raised by some of its legislators. Terming the demand as the "personal opinion" of some legislators, BJP legislature party leader Lalji Tandon today said, "The MLAs are free to express their individual opinion, but it cannot be construed as the official stand of the BJP."
"In a democracy, any person can express his feelings, there is no bar on that," Tandon, who was tipped by the legislators for the deputy chief ministership, told here.
The demand for the Dy CM's post was raised by a section of BJP legislators at a recent meeting held at Tandon's residence.
Interestingly, the demand to make Tandon the deputy chief minister was raised by dissident MLAs, who till the other day were accusing the senior minister of being "ineffective".
MLAs like Mayankeshwar Sharan Singh, Anil Verma and some others, in association with Ganga Bhakt Singh, had raised a banner of revolt against the party's state leadership and had demanded severing of ties with the BSP.
BJP had filed a petition to the speaker of the assembly seeking disqualification of these legislators for their "anti-party" activities. It, however, did not press the petition after the rebel legislators tendered apologies and mended their ways.
Bureau Report