There was turmoil bordering on panic among some United Front leaders yesterday as they grappled with whether to dismiss the BJPs government in Uttar Pradesh after it had established in the assembly that the majority of MLAs were willing to vote for Kalyan Singhs government.
Congress President Sitaram Kesri put immense pressure on Prime Minister IK Gujral to impose Presidents rule. Defence Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, whose stakes are in UP, was equally vehement. The Kesri-Yadav axis on this anti-BJP issue was ominous for the longevity of the UF. Congress leaders have claimed for some time that Yadav would ally with the Congress when the time was ripe for Lok Sabha elections.
Discussions continued through the day at the prime ministers residence. Gujral postponed his departure for Europe to 12.30 am. It was further delayed after a cabinet meeting in the evening could only decide to reconvene at 10.30. United Front Convenor N Chandrababu Naidu was to arrive in the capital by that time.
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The cabinet watched Doordarshan tapes of the afternoons assembly proceedings. The meeting also discussed a report from Governor Romesh Bhandari that some MLAs had come and complained to him that they were physically prevented from exercising their rights in the house.
At yesterdays informal meetings, Gujral and Home Minister Indrajit Gupta, who had both advised Bhandari to allow Kalyan Singh two days to prove his majority, stood by their decision. Yadav had wanted his Samajwadi Party, the second largest in the assembly, to be invited after the BSP withdrew from the coalition on Sunday. Some other UF constituents said Presidents rule should have been imposed at that stage. Gupta only nodded when Sitaram Yechury (CPM) told him the BJP would now start building temples at Mathura and Kashi.
Gupta argued that he had gone by the Supreme Courts judgement in the case SR Bommai had filed after his government in Karnataka was dismissed. Yadav countered that this had been a coalition, like the one in which he had shared power with the BSP. So, he said, the relevant judgement was the one which turned down his appeal against his dismissal following the BSPs withdrawal from the coalition. Many UF leaders agreed with him.
However, they were in at least two minds about whether Presidents rule should be imposed now. The BJP was girding for a propaganda offensive against the Centre if its majority was ignored. Its leaders made plans to parade a majority of the MLAs not only before the President but around the country while crying foul. Party President LK Advani wrote to Gujral threatening a dharna from today.
Gujral assured BJP leaders he would be fair. Other UF leaders were worried about President KR Narayanans assurance to Advani that he would abide by the spirit of the Constitution. Many UF constituents want the provision scrapped altogether.