MAYA AND THE STARS

EVERYTHING THAT Bahujan Samaj Party president Mayawati does these days seems to backfire.

When she asked her leaders to contribute to the party funds, it led to a near-revolt in the party, with two senior leaders, Swami Prasad Maurya and R.K. Chaudhary, quitting and accusing her of extortion. The allegations stuck mainly because both leaders happened were veterans and associated with late Kanshi Ram.

Recently, the BSP candidate from Budhana in Muzaffarnagar, Mohammad Arif, went missing from Meerut. The police launched a massive operation to trace him, but the BSP leader returned home on his own five days later. Ms Mayawati promptly expelled him from the party and Mr Arif promptly announced he was under severe depression and had left his home as he did not have money to contribute to the BSP fund. He also claimed a rival candidate had offered more money to Ms Mayawati and, therefore, his ticket was cancelled. The allegation has lent weight to earlier allegations.

Insiders in the BSP now feel that it is time for “Behenji” to consult an astrologer because something seems wrong with the stars. But “Behenji”, apparently, does not believe in astrology — not till the BSP has candidates lined up at its doorstep.