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Devesh Kumar
NEW DELHI, SEPT 20: With reports about a possible slide in the Bharatiya Janata Party's electoral fortunes in Uttar Pradesh gaining ground, the party bosses on Monday summoned State Chief Minister Kalyan Singh for urgent consultations.
Accompanied by State BJP chief Rajnath Singh and senior cabinet minister Lalji Tandon, Kalayan met Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Union Home Minister L K Advani for over two hours on Monday morning at 7, Race Course Road.
The meeting was, say sources, grim and tense. The three UP BJP leaders were apprised of the alarming reports received from the State by the party high command. Vajpayee and Advani are also learnt to have referred to the results of the exit polls.
The three State leaders were told in no uncertain terms about the state's importance for the BJP and the National Democratic Alliance and were asked to pull up their socks for the next two phases.
``Only a coordinated campaign by you will boost the party's prospects in the state,'' Vajpayee and Advaniare learnt to have told the three. They also asked the UP leaders to undertake joint campaigns across the state so that the party is seen as a cohesive unit.
Kalyan Singh, it is learnt, was also ticked off for his son's campaign against some the party candidates. He was also asked to publicly condemn Sakshi Maharaj's campaign against the party nominees in the Lodh-dominated areas.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Singh pointed out that the meeting revolved around formulating a strategy covering the key constituencies of Amethi, Rae Bareli and Akbarpur from where Sonia Gandhi, Arun Nehru and Mayawati are contesting.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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