BSP's hardcore missionary R D Gautam shakes hands with IJP

Lucknow, Feb 25 (UNI) A hardcore missionary of the ruling Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) government in Uttar Pradesh R D Gautam has joined the Indian Justice Party (IJP), alleging he was dissatisfied with the working of Chief Minister Mayawati, as MLAs and Ministers were scarcely given any power to function effectively.

Mr Gautam has been made the new General Secretary of IJP.

He was elected to the UP Assembly in 1993 and inducted as Minister for Rural Development and Area Development in 1995, when Ms Mayawati was throned as the state CM.

Talking to reporters here, Mr Gautam said, ''Mayawati instructs senior officials that if BSP MLAs and Ministers ask for anything, they should not be obliged. I am not a political humbug...thus, I became restless in the party as my conscience did not allow me to touch her feet.'' ''Manyawar Kanshiram took years to reach the zenith by his hard work. But, Mayawati tasted instant success through false means...she has gone astray and not at all a follower of Kanshiram,'' he charged.

Mr Gautam added throughout the year, BSP workers are either busy preparing the booth committees or collecting funds for Mayawati's grand birthday celebrations.

He said one of the major reason for his joining the IJP is to honour Ramaswamy Periyar by installing his statues in Lucknow and Allahabad on April 14.

''Mayawati is heading an absolute majority government in UP, but facing hardships in installing the idols of one of the real icons of the oppressed.'' UNI ATI SHB AS1542