I can topple UP Govt, claims Kalyan

LUCKNOW, Nov 29 (PTI, UNI) — The former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and suspended BJP leader, Mr Kalyan Singh, today claimed to have the support of a "sufficient" number of BJP MLAs and said he was in a position to topple the Ram Prakash Gupta-led government.

"MLAs in enough number are with me and I can topple the state government whenever I decide to do so," he said while addressing his supporters here.

Stating that "there is no future for psychophants", he said the BJP should be ready for a mid-term poll in the state "which is imminent any time now".

On the absence of support of any BJP stalwart over the past few days, he said, "enough party MLAs are in touch with me".

He said his suspension from the BJP would adversely affect the party.

Breaking the silence after his suspension from the party on Saturday, he spewed venom at the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, accusing him of having instigated the MLAs against him (Kalyan).

He said it did not matter whether the MLAs supported him or not because the people of the state were with him and they were agitated over his suspension.

"I am challenging all those who wish to tread the path strewn with difficulties to come with me’’, he said. "The party has sent me the show cause notice and I will give my reply, but I know the result. I shall be expelled from the party because the Prime Minister wants it this way. The charge of indiscipline was levelled against me but there is nobody else more indisciplined in the BJP than Mr Vajpayee himself’’, he added.

The show-cause notice did not specify which of his statements was objectionable, Mr Kalyan Singh said. Accusing Mr Vajpayee of having instigated the MLAs against him, he said, "Mr Devendra Nath Bhole, who resigned from the Council of Ministers and insulted me, was not thrown out of the party nor was any action taken against him’’.

NEW DELHI: The BJP on Monday hinted that Mr Kalyan Singh could be expelled from the party if he did not reply within seven days to the notice served on him.

"He has crossed the Lakshman rekha and has been served notice to explain his position within seven days. If he doesn’t do so, the party will take the necessary action", the BJP General Secretary Mr Venkaiah Naidu, told reporters here.

On Mr Kalyan Singh’s move to float a party on December 6 coinciding with the demolition of the Babri Masjid at Ayodhya, Mr Naidu said, "everyone has a right to launch his own party."

He, however, was confident that there would be no split in the BJP in the event of Mr Kalyan Singh’s expulsion. "The party was with him as long as he was in it. If he leaves, there will be no threat to the party."

Mr Kalyan Singh, suspended from the party on Saturday, was served a notice to reply within seven days for his tirade against the Prime Minister.

Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh BJP today discounted the claim made by Mr Kalyan Singh that he was in a position to topple the state government, claiming that the entire 176-member legislature group was solidly behind Chief Minister Ram Prakash Gupta.

"The BJP-led government is firmly stable and intact with no possibility of any split in the party" senior BJP leader and legislature group secretary Narendra Singh told reporters here.

In a boost to the BJP high command, coalition partners of the Gupta Ministry also declared their support for the Chief Minister, saying they had aligned with the lead party and not with any individual.

PATNA: In a related development, suspended BJP MLA Dhruv Bhagat on Monday resigned from primary membership for the party in protest against the disciplinary action taken against Kalyan Singh.