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UP dissident leader meets top
RSS leader, BJP softens stand

According to informed party sources, Ganga Bhakt met Rajendra Singh late on Thursday night for nearly an hour and discussed the current impasse between the state BJP leadership and dissidents that has aggravated following the latter proposing arms dealer Suresh Nanda's name during the recent Rajya Sabha poll.

The state leadership has in turn sought their disqualification from the assembly.

The meeting, held at the local RSS office, was organised at the instance of former UP chief minister Ram Prakash Gupta, an old-time RSS functionary.

Ganga Bhakt, who has been an RSS pracharak (volunteer) himself, reportedly apprised Rajendra Singh of the circumstances that led to the revolt in the state unit of the party.

He is believed to have got an assurance from Rajendra Singh that their case would be taken up with senior BJP leaders.

Meanwhile, in a move that signals a possible rapproachment with the dissidents ahead of the crucial legislative council by-poll, the BJP leadership has decided not to petition the speaker to disenfranchise 10 dissident MLAs.

BJP legislature group leader Lalji Tandon and state BJP president Vinay Katiyar had earlier said that they would petition Speaker Kesrinath Tripathi to get the 10 MLAs debarred from exercising their franchise in the by-election to the lone legislative council seat slated for November 18.

"We do not harbour any ill-feeling towards any of the dissidents," Tandon said. "They have been misguided by some anti-party elements and we hope they will see reason and return to the party fold."

The doors of the party are open to all of them to return 'honourably', he said.

The decision of the party, viewed as an effort to persuade the dissidents to return to the party fold, comes amidst reports that the 10 MLAs were contemplating legal action to block the party's attempt to get them disenfranchised.

The council by-election for the lone seat is seen as a virtual trial of strength for the Mayawati government with the ruling combine's nominee Munna Singh Chauhan and the dissidents' candidate Yashwant Singh locking horns in a straight contest.

Cross voting by some disgruntled MLAs along with some identified dissidents in the BSP, BJP and RLD could jeopardise the chances of the ruling alliance nominee.

More reports from Uttar Pradesh

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