Ajit Upset Over Chargesheet

Yet another pocket of discontent has emerged within the United Front: the newly-formed Bharatiya Kisan Kamgar Parishad led by Ajit Singh.

Party members are very upset with the government because of the chargesheet filed against Singh in the JMM bribery case on Wednesday. Singh sees Prime Minister HD Deve Gowdas hand behind the episode - in order to please his bete noire, Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav.

They are particularly bitter since the charge has been filed just as the campaign began for Singhs re-election from the Baghpat constituency, considered his pocket borough. Singh, who was elected from there on a Congress ticket, resigned after he left the party to float the BKKP and join the United Front.

However, BKKP spokesman Dhirendra Pratap yesterday said that it seems some political opponents have hatched a conspiracy to malign Ajit Singh.

He had expected to become a minister in the Gowda government but has had to cool his heels on the margins.

Among those whom Gowda must keep in mind are Singhs old adversaries, Mulayam Singh Yadav and VP Singh. The charge sheet makes his induction even more unlikely.

Ever since the news of his being charged, he has been busy contacting Front leaders to plead his innocence. UF leaders have asked him to calm down and hold a press conference to explain his position.

Earlier, the BKKP had protested against what they called the indifferent attitude of Front leaders towards Singh and his party after the Uttar Pradesh elections. Party sources said he had not been invited to many of the United Fronts steering committees. Only now that he has been a regular visitor to the steering committee.