BJP wants UP governor to substantiate report

The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party believes Uttar Pradesh Governor TV Rajeswar should substantiate his report to the Centre on the state government, and make it clear that free and fair polls are not possible in the state under the Samajwadi Party-led coalition.

A BJP leader, who asked not to be named, said his party believed the Centre was itself in a state of confusion over how to act on the governor's report. "I hope he (governor) sticks to the rationale that free and fair elections are not possible under the Mulayam Singh Yadav government," the leader remarked.

Meanwhile, Union Minister and LJP leader Ram Vilas Paswan today said his party was not opposed to dismissal of the Samajwadi Party government. "The chief minister should resign on his own on moral grounds and set an example," Paswan said at a press conference here.

The BSP, meanwhile, stepped up pressure on the Centre to dismiss the Mulayam Singh Yadav government in Uttar Pradesh. The party has threatened to launch a statewide agitation against Congress if it failed to take any concrete step in this direction.

"Despite the report of the state governor, Congress is dilly-dallying in dismissing the state government and imposing President's rule", a visibly angry BSP chief Mayawati said told reporters.

The BJP, which aims to regain the lost ground in the key state, has also demanded the dismissal of 10 of its MLAs who have switched loyalty to the ruling dispensation before Yadav's planned trial of strength in the assembly on February 26.

"The governor may substantiate his report by citing the conduct of the Uttar Pradesh government in the recent civic elections in the state," said the BJP leader, whose party won eight of the 12 mayoral seats in those polls. He also cited allegations of misuse of state power in the elections.

The BJP's brass has emphasised that the Election Commission can take cognisance of Rajeswar's moves in order to ensure the assembly elections are held in a free and fair manner.

Ahead of the elections, the BJP has been persistently demanding the imposition of President's Rule in Uttar Pradesh as it accuses the state government of complete failure on the law and order front.

To a question, he said Yadav should not be given the opportunity to prove his majority on the floor of the assembly as "it will lead to largescale horse-trading. We are not opposed to imposition of President's rule".

Paswan said "the moment Yadav quits, President's Rule will be automatically imposed".

About his party's stand on the use of Article 356 in the state, Paswan said since LJP was part of the Congress-led coalition at the Centre, "it will abide by whatever collective decision the government takes on the matter".

"I have spoken to Congress President Sonia Gandhi (on the UP issue), but I cannot divulge what views were exchanged," he said when asked if LJP's opinion was taken on the matter.

Paswan said his party will hold a "maha rally" in Lucknow on February 24 to "show LJP's strength" in the poll-bound state.

"We warn the Congress-led government that our party will launch a statewide agitation if it does not dismiss the Mulayam Singh Yadav government", she said.

"Congress should not succumb to the pressure of Left parties on this matter," Mayawati said.