Concern was apparent among the MLAs about their future. A Rajput MLA from the Congress said there would be many who would vote for the BJP if the Presidents rule lasted for two weeks.
The Assembly has around 80 Rajput MLAs. The Congress MLA said if there is a move for backward caste unity, then we will ensure a forward caste unity as well.
A BJP MLA said plenty of people would support the party if it was asked to form the government. It was widely stated that many MLAs would abstain from voting since no one wanted another election.
A Samajwadi leader said the BJP had better chances of getting a majority if Presidents rule was imposed. Once the BSP MLAs are released, many of them would switch over to the BJP. The group may include many scheduled castes as well.
The BJP yesterday staged a protest march to the Raj Bhawan against the decision to impose Presidents rule in Uttar Pradesh. The party has decided to observe today as protest day and has called for a state rally in Lucknow on October 25. Party workers here burned an effigy of Governor Romesh Bhandari. In the morning the general impression here was that BJP leader Kalyan Singh would be sworn in as Chief Minister. most newly-elected MLAs were of the opinion that the largest party should be invited.
There seemed to be a move for the installation of the BJP government around noon, when the director of information Rohit Nandan met Kalyan Singh to inquire whether he would take the oath alone or with others. Kalyan Singh said Let me get the invitation first and then I will decide. Preparations were also afoot in Raj Bhawan, as if a swearing-in ceremony was being planned. the road to Raj Bhawan was being cleaned and watered, a pandal was being prepared, chairs were brought in all adding to the impression that a swearing-in was on. At four in the evening the news about Presidents rule spread.The temperature immediately went up as a large crowd gathered outside the BJP office.
The Raj Bhawan later clarified that the assembly will be constituted and a pro-tem speaker administered oath. immediately after the constitution of the Assembly, it would be placed under suspended animation and the reimposition of central rule would take effect.
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Mulayam Singh Yadav welcomed the Presidents rule, saying that it would give the secular forces time to have a rethink on the leadership issue.
the CPI said it was a constitutional necessity. We would like to form a government of secular forces.
However, the Congress was scathing in its attack. A UPCC resolution signed by Jitendra Prasada described the central rule as a UF conspiracy to sabotage the democratic process. It was a blatant betrayal of the peoples verdict. The resolution held the UF government at the Centre responsible for the derailment of democracy.
The resolution further demanded the immediate convening of the Congress Working Committee to review support to the UF government, in the context of the developments in UP.