Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Tuesday inducted four Congress rebels into her council of ministers, while removing nine of her own party -- the Bahujan Samaj Party.
Each of the four new entrants were made Minister of State with Independent charge, in place of the four BSP ministers who were re-inducted as Ministers of State only.
She had secured the resignations of the 13 BSP ministers on February 1, which she accepted on Tuesday.
"The others expressed their desire to devote themselves to the party," she told reporters after the swearing in ceremony in Lucknow.
She declined to offer ministership to the remaining four Congress rebels because they were unwilling to formally join her party.
"My doors are open for others as well," she said in reply to whether she was making room to accommodate the remaining Congress rebels.
With the induction of the Congress rebels and the exit of nine BSP members, the strength of Mayawati's council of ministers now stands at 74 from 79.
Earlier last week, eight Congress members had walked away from their party to form their independent Akhil Bhartiya Congress Dal that was promptly granted recognition by Uttar Pradesh Assembly Speaker Keshri Nath Tripathi.
Even as the remaining four Congress rebels claimed that they would extend support to the Mayawati government, speculation was rife about their joining hands with the Samajwadi Party or even reverting back to the Congress. "They are constantly in touch with us," claimed Pramod Tiwari, state Congress Legislature Party leader.
Mayawati is preparing to strengthen her support base even as the Congress and the Samajwadi Party having decided to bring a `no confidence' motion against her government at the coming budget session of the state assembly sometime later this month or in early March.
More from rediff