Backroom manoeuvres: 'Mulayam was told to resign or face dismissal'

When independent Rajya Sabha member, businessman and Kanshi Ram's trouble-shooter Jayant Malhoutra declared on May 31, "Wait for a few days and Mulayam Singh Yadav will be out", it was seen as another empty boast. But the coup was already well on its way.

The final phase began on May 23. That night, Mulayam had called on Kanshi Ram in Lucknow to discuss alliance issues, but the BSP leader insisted that they speak in the presence of journalists, remarking: "Charon koandheron ki zaroorat hoti hai.Main to roshni main baat karta hoon" (It's thieves who need to talk in the dark. I discuss things in the open). Soon after, Mulayam left alone for an election tour which he and Kanshi Ram were to undertake together.

Later that night, Kanshi Ram went to the house of Lalji Tandon, the BJP's leader in the Vidhan Parishad, and informed him that they had decided to form the Government with BJP support. Ram and Malhoutra returned to Delhi on May 24 and met BJP Rajya Sabha member Sangh Priya Gautam. His assurance set the ball rolling, and Murli Manohar Joshi was authorised to talk to the BSP.