The Hindu : National : ‘Kalyan, Uma will create more crisis in BJP’

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Tuesday, Nov 17, 2009
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‘Kalyan, Uma will create more crisis in BJP’

Anita Joshua

NEW DELHI: Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh on Monday welcomed the bid by the former Chief Ministers, Kalyan Singh and Uma Bharti, to return to the BJP.

Describing the duo as “party-breakers,” Mr. Digvijay Singh — who is in-charge of Congress affairs in Uttar Pradesh — said their return to the BJP would facilitate more confusion and crisis in a party that is already facing a leadership crisis. Speaking to journalists, Mr. Digvijay Singh was upbeat about the Congress’ prospects in U.P., as the party had now equalled the Samajwadi Party’s (SP) clutch of 22 Lok Sabha seats from the State. And, efforts were on to put in place a State-specific strategy for the Assembly elections in 2012.

Having defeated SP president Mulayam Singh’s daughter-in-law in the family pocket borough of Ferozabad in the recent by-polls to the Lok Sabha, the Congress is sure that the possible return of both Mr. Kalyan Singh and Ms. Bharti to the BJP would not lead to a realignment of backward castes.

Part of this confidence lies in the Congress perception that people are increasingly getting disenchanted with caste-based politics and the way it has evolved. Though reluctant to write off Mr. Mulayam Singh and his brand of politics, he said the SP’s brand of politics was being rejected, partly because it was perceived to be singularly aimed at promoting a chosen few.

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