Breakaway Congress group in UP headed for a split

The newly-formed Akhil Bharatiya Congress Dal (ABCD), which broke away from the Congress, on Monday appeared headed for a split with four of its legislators reportedly keen on joining the ruling Bahujan Samaj Party in Uttar Pradesh.

Three ABCD legislators -- Kazim Ali Khan, Kameshwar Upadhyay and Shyam Narain Tewari -- met assembly Speaker Kesri Nath Tripathi and apprised him of their decision to join the BSP, Vidhan Sabha (secretariat) sources said.

Another ABCD legislator Virendra Singh Bundela, who was also scheduled to meet the speaker, could not do so due to a family function, the sources said.

Admitting that four legislators were keen to join the BSP, ABCD leader Akhilesh Singh said the remaining four had not yet decided on extending support to the Mayawati government.