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BSP rebels form new party, to merge with SP
Our Correspondent

Lucknow, September 6
A group of 37-BSP legislators today marched to the office of the Speaker of the Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Sabha today and submitted a letter seeking recognition for their group as Loktantrik Bahujan Samaj Party, thus formalising a split in the BSP.

“We have formed separate group, called Loktantrik Bahujan Samaj Party, under the leadership of Rajendra Singh Rana and would support Mulayam Singh Yadav during the crucial confidence vote slated for September 8,” said Mukhtar Ansari, Mafiadon-turned rebel BSP legislator.

Speaker Kesari Nath Tripathi ‘personally verified’ the breakaway group.

Mr Rana later told mediapersons that six more BSP legislators had voiced support to the newly formed LBSP. “They wanted to join us personally, but could not do so due to some unavoidable circumstances,” he said.

They had sent signed letters addressed to the Speaker. “With six more joining us, the total number of breakaway as group has reached 43,” he said.

The Speaker, however, refused to take cognizance of the letters “until he personally verifies the letters”.

In the 401-member state Assembly, the BSP has 109 members. The breakaway group needed at least 37 legislators to cross the Rubicon.

Mr Rana later said with the formation of the 37-member group, the split in the BSP had been formalised as per the rules of the anti-defection law. The breakaway group also gave a letter to the Speaker seeking merger of the LBSP with the Samajwadi Party.

Earlier, leader of the BSP legislature party Swami Prasad Maury earlier met the Speaker and requested him to “recognise” any breakaway group after personal verification. 

Six included in Mulayam ministry

Lucknow, September 6
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav tonight effected the first expansion of his ministry by including six Cabinet Ministers.

Governor Vishnukant Shastri administered the oath of office and secrecy to Samajwadi Party’s Azam Khan and Shiv Pal Singh Yadav, younger brother of the CM, Rashtriya Lok Dal’s Anuradha Chaudhury and Kokab Hamid and Rashtriya Kranti Party’s Kusum Rai and Rajbir Singh, son of party president Kalyan Singh.

Ms Chaudhury and Mr Hamid were ministers in the previous Mayawati government when the RLD was extending support to the ruling alliance. They had resigned after Mr Ajit Singh snapped ties with the NDA government at the Centre and the BSP-BJP alliance in the state.

Till recently, Mr Azam Khan was Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly. — UNI