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Kalraj rules out stepping into Kalyan's shoes

Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Uttar Pradesh Public Works and Tourism Minister Kalraj Mishra Friday ruled out any change in the leadership of the BJP legislature party in his state.

Mishra, who was in Madras to promote tourism in Uttar Pradesh, described as incorrect the media reports about forward and backward caste lobbies fighting for power in the legislature party.

Denying the rumours that he would replace Chief Minister Kalyan Singh, the minister said such talks were spread by 'vested interests.' Kalyan Singh was like an elder brother to him, and the chief minister reciprocated the feeling.

There was no clash of interests, and the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh would complete its full five-year term under Kalyan Singh's leadership, Mishra said.

The party leadership, which met recently in Bangalore had also made it clear that there would be no change in the leadership, he pointed out.

The minister said the reports about the Congress regaining the support of dalits and minorities were exaggerated. The Congress had virtually been wiped out in the state in the last Lok Sabha election and the situation was unchanged.

Mishra described the Congress claim of coming to power at the Centre on its own as 'a pious wish.' Any party which had no presence in Uttar Pradesh, which sends the largest number of members to the Lok Sabha, 85, could not aspire to capture power in Delhi.

He also denied the opposition charge that the law and order situation in the state had deteriorated. The voters continued to be solidly behind the BJP, he claimed.

Answering a question, Mishra said the Kalyan Singh government's most significant achievement was the creation of infrastructure, which would have a bearing on the long-term development of the state.

UNI

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