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Sharat Pradhan in Lucknow
A sharp split in the Loktantrik Congress Party has saved the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Rajnath Singh government of Uttar Pradesh from crumbling.
Eleven of the party's 19 Members of Legislative Assembly not only called on the chief minister to express their solidarity with him, but also met state governor Vishnu Kant Shastri to reaffirm their faith in Rajnath Singh.
Shastri said on Friday evening, "Eleven legislators of Loktantrik Congress Party, who met me have clearly spelt out their support for the Rajnath Singh government."
He clarified, "Earlier in the day, I did receive a fax from Naresh Agarwal at about 12.30 pm stating that he was withdrawing the party's support to the government. However, not a single MLA has conveyed his inclination to part ways with the ruling coalition, and now that so many legislators have expressed their solidarity with Rajnath Singh, I do not see any reason to ask the chief minister to prove his majority."
Shortly after the 11 LCP MLAs called on him, Rajnath Singh told mediapersons at his residence, "While they have already declared their decision to stay with the government, there were at least four others who had personally conveyed their solidarity with me over the telephone, since they were not in town."
Exuding confidence that Agarwal would get isolated, he said, "I am sure, all LCP MLAs other than Naresh Agarwal would be on the side of the government by Saturday morning."
Besides this chunk of LCP legislators, Rajnath Singh already has the additional support of seven Lok Dal MLAs, belonging to the Ajit Singh faction, that recently aligned with the National Democratic Alliance.
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