Faced with growing dissatisfaction in the party rank and file, the Kalyan Singh government in Uttar Pradesh may be forced to hold elections to the state Assembly sooner than expected.
The BJP secured power in the state after making major sacrifices, both in terms of principles and public esteem. But the very purpose of forming the government has been defeated with every defectors demanding and getting a ministry.
There are already 93 ministers and no more departments left to distribute. Five Bahujan Samaj Party MLAs, the last ones to defect, were sworn in as ministers but could not be allotted portfolios. Ministerial berths to outsiders and newcomers from the Loktantrik Congress and the Jantantrik BSP have caused heartburn among senior BJP leaders.
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Kalyan Singh in desperation has declared that all civil postings will henceforth be done as per the desires of MLAs and MPs.
If practised, this may cause greater dissatisfaction with many innocent and good officers becoming victims of self-seeking motives of these representatives.
The action group of Indian Aadministrative Services (IAS) officers has already submitted a memorandum to the government in protest against the move.
They argue that informally, the ruling party has always managed to get its own men installed in key posts but this blatant method is unacceptable.
Rajnath Singh, state BJP president, declared in Kanpur on Monday, that the persecution of party cadres will have to come to an end. It will not be tolerated anymore.
Party leaders concede this is a sign of desperation and will create more problems than it will solve.
The state has no money. The situation is desperate. Teachers are threatening agitation over revised pay scales.
This will require Rs 23,000 crore beyond the capacity of the government.
There is no way the government can raise resources.
The much-touted plan to reduce administrative and revenue expenditure has failed completely, thanks to a jumbo ministry.
With the government failing to cut down unproductive expenditure, there is little money for productive expenditure.
The Bharatiya Janata Partys misery does not end here. The Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) is yet to accept the methods through the Kalyan Singh came to power.
Although Rajnath Singh still claims this government will last its full term, other BJP leaders say there is no way out but for fresh elections.
In fact, Kalyan Singh, in his parting speech at the partys Vrindavan conclave hinted at the same when he asked the cadres to keep their powder dry.
The coming elections might see a combined Bahujan Samaj Party-Samajwadi Party opposition against the Bharatiya Janata Party.
There have been statements by both Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party leaders that an alliance between the two is only a matter of time. Mayawati has made it clear that she is prepared for an alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party taking half the seats and sharing the chief ministership on a six month basis.
But Mulayam Singh knows that any alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party will mean that the latter will again become a thorn in the path of the Samajwadi Party.