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Anand Mohan Sahay in Patna
Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi will induct three Bahujan Samaj Party Members of Legislative Assembly into her Cabinet, a move which is likely to split the state unit of the BSP.
BSP has five MLAs in the assembly.
BSP sources told rediff.com that that three MLAs are joining the ministry against the wishes of the BSP central leadership.
The three are BSP Legislature Party chief Mahabali Singh, Rajesh Singh and Chedi Lal Ram. Mahabali Singh is tipped to get a Cabinet berth, while the other two would be inducted as ministers of state.
The BSP's leadership has come closer to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's Bharatiya Janata Party, which is supporting the BSP government in Uttar Pradesh, while the BSP in return is supporting Vajpayee's National Democratic Alliance's coalition at the Centre.
The move to induct the three has come as major setback for the main opposition BJP and its other allies like Samata Party, as they were sure to garner the support of the BSP in their fight against the RJD.
Sources in RJD said that Rabri by inducting the three BSP legislators wants to send a clear message to the Congress that her government can survive without its support.
The BSP MLAs, however, are in hiding and expected to arrive just before the swearing-in ceremony scheduled at 5.30 pm on Tuesday, RJD sources said.
After the induction of the three BSP legislators, the strength of the Rabri Devi Cabinet will increase to 65, including the chief minister herself, with 32 Cabinet and 32 state ministers.
The Cabinet's strength was reduced to 62, following the resignations of Shankar Prasad Tekriwal, Sanjay Singh and Aditya Singh for reasons ranging from revolt against RJD chief Laloo Prasad Yadav to charges of murder.
The Congress has 12 legislators who are supporting the RJD, which has 115 legislators and more than a dozen independents and smaller groups supporting it in the house of 243.
Sources close to RJD chief Yadav said that the deal to induct three BSP legislators was finalised on Sunday.
BSP legislators are believed to have crossed-voted in support of the RJD in the Rajya Sabha and legislative council polls in April.
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