The ruling Bahujan Samaj Party in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday decided to get rid of all the criminal elements in the party by April 30.

An announcement to this effect was reportedly made at a day-long meeting of the party's district chiefs and coordinators, addressed by party supremo and UP Chief Minister Mayawati's close confidant and minister Naseemuddin Siddiqui, on Friday.

"The party chief has resolved to rid the BSP of all criminal and anti-social elements in the party by the end of the current month," Siddiqui told the gathering.

The move comes in the wake of the killing of party leader Hanuman Sharan Shukla at a BSP demonstration in Gonda on Wednesday. Even though Shukla had been officially disowned by the party leadership, Siddiqui pointed out to partymen that his murder had adversely affected the image of the BSP.

Interestingly, the minister's directive was limited to the expulsion of criminals occupying positions at the district level in the party hierarchy. No mention was made about the notorious and dreaded mafia dons enjoying prominence in the party.