Kusum Rai to be made BJP national secy

As Mulayam Singh Yadav and Kalyan Singh engage in another bitter duel after having fallen apart since the Lok Sabha polls, it's Kusum Rai who should be in smiles. Shekhar Iyer

As Mulayam Singh Yadav and Kalyan Singh engage in another bitter duel after having fallen apart since the Lok Sabha polls, it's Kusum Rai who should be in smiles.

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Also, a section of the BJP that is opposed to former BJP president Rajnath Singh may now want Kalyan back into the party fold before the UP assembly polls.

Rai, one-time close associate of Kalyan Singh and BJP's Rajya Sabha member, is set to become a national secretary of the party.

Rai had refused to join her former mentor when he quit the BJP in January 2009 before the polls to join hands with the Samajwadi Party chief.

Once seen as the right hand of Kalyan, Rai steered clear of his rebellion against the BJP, making it clear that she would remain loyal with the party.

She was made a Rajya Sabha member in November 2008 by central BJP leaders to placate Kalyan. But Kalyan revolted, saying he was humiliated in ticket distribution.

Rai advised him against joining hands with Mulayam and refused to follow suit. Her action impressed the central BJP leaders who ranked her organizational skills quite high.

Rai would fill the slot vacated by Smriti Irani who was appointed head of the BJP's women wing a few days ago, BJP sources said. Rai is expected to work in UP where the assembly polls are due in 2012.