NEW DELHI/LUCKNOW, 4 February 2004 — Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Kalyan Singh yesterday returned to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), giving it a much-needed boost in India’s most populous state ahead of the upcoming general election.
Party sources said Singh will accompany Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on his visit to the state starting from Feb. 8. He will start his campaign for the BJP from “Atal Sandesh yatra” for which Vajpayee is reaching Lucknow on Feb. 7.
A majority of the BJP’s Uttar Pradesh leaders favored Singh’s return as they felt that it would help in countering the challenge from key rivals like former Chief Minister and incumbent Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav.
According to party sources, Singh is likely to be made national Vice President in charge of Uttar Pradesh to strengthen the party in this crucial state. His homecoming was a grand affair and in sharp contrast to his ignominious exit from the party five years ago.
BJP General Secretary Pramod Mahajan, who heads the party’s campaign panel, personally escorted Singh from Uttar Pradesh capital Lucknow to New Delhi in a chartered flight.
From the airport, Singh was driven to Vajpayee’s residence for a photo opportunity and to complete the formalities of his re-induction into the BJP.
Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani met Singh before the formal announcement of his return was made at a news conference in Delhi.
“Keeping the current situation in view, I have decided to return to my mother organization and merge my party into BJP,” Singh told reporters.
Singh had formed the Rashtriya Kranti Party (RKP) after his ouster, which had reportedly been triggered by his controversial liaison with then Municipal Councilor Kusum Rai.
The RKP is a part of the Samajwadi Party-led Uttar Pradesh government.
Kusum and Singh’s son Rajbir are the two RKP ministers in the government. Both resigned after Singh’s return to the BJP.
“I am used to quitting posts. This would be my fourth resignation,” said Kusum, who earlier had to resign as a member of the Uttar Pradesh social welfare board and as chairperson of the state commission for women.
