The Hindu : Mulayam may expand Cabinet on Saturday

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 01, 2003

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Mulayam may expand Cabinet on Saturday

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI. SEPT 30. The six-member Uttar Pradesh Cabinet is likely to be expanded by Saturday. According to informed sources, the Chief Minister, Mulayam Singh Yadav, is working out the caste and regional factors before taking a decision.

He is under pressure from within his own party MLAs and those belonging to the allied parties to accommodate them in the Ministry. The pressure is intense from the BSP legislators, who had crossed over to the Samajwadi Party after the fall of the Mayawati Government.

Mr. Yadav held a series of meetings with the Lok Dal president, Ajit Singh, and the Kranti Dal chief, Kalyan Singh. There is difference of opinion between the two parties on their representation in the Cabinet. Two of the four Kranti Dal members are now Ministers. This has led to some heartburn in the Lok Dal, which is demanding seven berths. Mr. Ajit Singh is going to Lucknow tomorrow for last minute consultations. Mr. Yadav also has to handle the growing dissatisfaction in the Kalyan Singh camp over his handling of the Bharatiya Janata Party. Mr. Kalyan Singh has been in touch with the BJP rebels and it is an open secret that he has been trying to break the BJP.

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