Rebel MLAs leader reiterates allegiance to Mulayam

Lucknow, Mar 2 (UNI) Even as five of the rebel 40 BSP MLAs have announced their decision to quit the Samajwadi Party and rejoin the BSP, Rajendra Singh Rana, the leader of the group and a minister in the Mulayam Singh Yadav cabinet reiterated support to the ruling coalition.

Mr Rana, UP Culture and Women Development Minister of State with independent charge, was the leader of the group, which defected from the BSP to join the SP in 2003. '''There is no threat to the government,'' he asserted.

Dismissing speculation about him rejoining BSP, he told UNI ''We are still hopeful that the five members would come back to Samajwadi Party and strengthen the party, besides the government.'' Mr Rana who had been in the centre of activities in August 2003 when the Mulayam Singh Yadav government was formed said.

the Assembly Speaker had already ruled that his group known as 'Loktantrik Bahujan Dal' would continue to sit in the treasury benches. ''No way we would leave the Mulayam Singh government and rejoin the BSP,'' he said.

Yesterday, four MLAs including two ministers -- Surendra Vikram Singh and Jaiveer Singh -- besides Dharam Pal Singh heading UP State Poultry and Livestock Corporation and Ramji Shukla had resigned from the SP and expressed willingness to join the BSP. earlier in the day one of these 40 rebel BSP MLAs Ram Krishna, the Chairman of UP Development Systems Corporation (UPDESCO) announced his decision to quit the SP and rejoin BSP.

The Allahabad High Court in its February 28 judgement had remanded the matter of 40 rebel MLAs to the speaker, while quashing the earlier orders of the then speaker and recognising the group of 40 as separate 'Loktantrik Bahujan Dal'.

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