Lucknow: In a move that signals possible rapprochement between the dissidents and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the crucial legislative council by-poll, the party has decided not to petition the Speaker to get disenfranchisement of 10 members of legislative assembly (MLAs) whose disqualification had been sought.

"We are not going to approach the Speaker to get the 10 MLAs de-franchised" BJP legislature group leader Lalji Tandon said.

Tandon and the state BJP president Vinay Katiyar had earlier said that they would petition Speaker Kesri Nath Tripathi to get the 10 MLAs debarred from exercising their franchise in the by-election to the lone legislative council seat slated for November 18 next.

"We do not harbour any ill-feeling towards any of the dissidents," Tandon said adding, "They have been misguided by some anti-party elements and we hope they will see reason and return to the party fold."

Stating that any move to get them de-franchised would convey a wrong message, he said that the doors of the party are open to all of them to return "honourably".

PTI