BJP MLA Ganga Singh Chauhan, who had been recently assaulted by a gang that killed his wife, resigned his seat on Friday in protest against government's failure to take action against an SP and a Loktantrik Congress minister alleged to be behind the assault.

Chauhan has faxed his resignation letter to the UP Assembly speaker Kesrinath Tripathi from Hardoi. Tripathi has, however, denied having received any fax or letter from the BJP MLA about his resignation.

Chauhan was attacked by unidentified assailants on July 16. His wife had died while he was admitted in a serious condition at Lucknow. The then SP S S Maheshwari was named in the FIR alongwith nine unidentified assailants.

Chauhan had created a stir by accusing Energy Minister and Loktantrik Congress Party (LCP) president Naresh Agarwal of being behind the assault. Both Chauhan and Agarwal are MLAs from Hardoi district.

The allegation had strained relations between the BJP and LCP, a coalition partner in the Gupta government. Although chief minister Ram Prakash Gupta has recommended a CBI probe, about a dozen BJP legislators continued to demand the Energy Minister's resignation.

On Thursday, Chauhan had shot off a letter to the Chief Minister demanding the arrest of the then Hardoi SP who is allegedly being shielded by Agarwal.

Lalji Tandon, a senior BJP minister in Gupta Cabinet, is trying to persuade Chauhan to withdraw his resignation. Another BJP MLA and former state minister Devendra Singh Bhole has reiterated the demand for Agarwal's removal. "If it leads to support withdrawal by Loktantrik Congress then it's better to have President's rule in the state," said Bhole.