Gupta relents, but allies adamant

LUCKNOW, Nov 22 (PTI) — Key constituents of the Ram Prakash Gupta government in UP, sore at "discrimination" in portfolio allocation, today stuck to their stand of their representatives in the ministry not taking their charge unless their grievances were redressed even as the Chief Minister agreed to make "minor" changes in their portfolios.

Loktantrik Congress President Naresh Agarwal and JBSP spokesman Jai Narain Tewari told PTI that the ministers belonging to their parties would assume office only after the Chief Minister removed the "disparity" in portfolio allocation.

Welcoming Mr Gupta’s statement that he was ready for minor changes in portfolios, Mr Agarwal said this was a positive step and hoped the problem would be resolved through dialogue.

Mr Tewari said his party was in touch with other allies and a common strategy on the issue was being worked out.

"The party may be forced to take a drastic decision at its executive committee meeting on November 26 if corrective measures are not taken," he said.

On the other hand, Mr Gupta, facing mounting pressure from the allies over portfolio distribution, told reporters "I am ready to make minor changes to satisfy the allies", and maintained that there was no danger to his government.

The Chief Minister said while some ministers belonging to the BJP had offered to relinquish their charge to satisfy the allies, he was not ready to make major changes in the ministry.

Mr Gupta ruled out the expansion of his ministry to tide over the crisis saying that there was no scope for it and expressed confidence that the issue would be solved soon.

"The distribution of portfolios is more or less the same as that in the erstwhile Kalyan Singh Government," he said adding the allies had not been undermined in any manner.

"Some portfolios held by the BJP ministers have been given to members of coalition partners," he said.