M A I N   N E W S

RLD pulls out of UP Govt
Ajit, Amar Singh meet Governor
Our Correspondent and Agencies

Lucknow, May 30
The 14-member RLD led by Mr Ajit Singh today withdrew support to the BSP-BJP coalition government in Uttar Pradesh demanding immediate dismissal of the Mayawati ministry and triggering a move for an unprecedented opposition unity to provide a viable alternative.

Shortly after the decision was taken in an RLD meeting here, Mr Ajit Singh accompanied by a Samajwadi Party leader, Mr Amar Singh, a Congress leader, Mr Nawal Kishore Sharma, and others went to Raj Bhavan and submitted a letter to the Governor, Mr Vishnu Kant Shastri, withdrawing support.

Mr Ajit Singh later told reporters that the Governor had assured him of considering his demand.

As of now, the BSP-BJP combine has the support of 211 members, including nine Independents, in a House with an effective strength of 401.

He claimed “we have enough BJP legislators in touch with us and our strength is more than what we need.”

The claim was, however, countered by the BJP Legislature Party Leader, Mr Lalji Tandon, who said “we have enough numbers under our belt.....There is no threat to the State government.”

His party colleague and BJP spokesman H.N. Dixit claimed that senior BJP leaders were in touch with SP MLAs and there were many disgruntled members of that party keen to join the coalition.

This is for the first time that the Samajwadi Party, the Congress, the RLD as also the Rashtriya Kranti Dal of former Chief Minister Kalyan Singh have come together in a united bid to provide a viable alternative.

Soon after the RLD decision, SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, Kalyan Singh, Nawal Kishore Sharma (Congress) and Ajit Singh held a closed-door meeting in the VVIP guest house here today to chalk out a combined opposition strategy to topple the Mayawati government.

SP general secretary Amar Singh, who was also present at the meeting, said they had given a final shape to their strategy but refused to divulge details.

Even though the ruling coalition still enjoys the number game in the Legislative Assembly, any possible split in the ranks of the BJP or Independents supporting the ruling coalition may upset the applecart of Ms Mayawati, who is on a fortnight-long foreign jaunt.

The state Legislative Assembly has 402 seats including the Chiraigaon Assembly bypoll postponed by the Election Commission. The SP has 142 members, BSP 110, BJP 87, Congress 16, RLD 14, Rashtriya Kranti Party (RKP) 4, and the CPI-M and the Loktantrik Congress two each.

The Apna Dal, JD-U, Akhil Bharatiya Congress Party (ABCP), Maajhi Majhwar Soshit Samaj (MMSS), SJP (Nationalist), Janata Party, Hindu Mahasabha and National Loktantrik Party (NLP) have all one member each. Besides, there are 16 Independents.

The BSP’s 110 members and 87 of the BJP add up to 197. With the ABCP, the Loktantrik Congress, the Samata Party, the Hindu Mahasabha and at least 10 Independents supporting the government, the total comes to a ‘safe’ 213, according to another calculation.

Meanwhile, top BJP sources claimed that at least five RLD MLAs were in constant touch with the party leadership and ready to support the government.

BJP Legislature Party Leader Lalji Tandon while claiming that he was officiating as the acting Chief Minister said the BSP-BJP coalition was “as solid as a rock” and there was no threat to its stability despite the RLD’s decision to withdraw support.

Ms Mayawati is on a 16-day four-nation tour. She had reportedly authorised her political managers to take certain decisions in her absence. She is expected to return by June 11.

With the Opposition-sponsored no-confidence motion facing a defeat on the floor of the House on March 5, the ruling coalition can feel comfortable with the fact that a fresh motion could not be brought before six months. “The Governor, of course, can ask the government to prove its majority,” said a BJP leader.

Later talking to reporters, Mr Ajit Singh said “Governor Vishnu Kant Shastri had invited Ms Mayawati to form the government only on getting RLD’s letter of support and now with the RLD withdrawing support, the government has been reduced to a minority and it should prove its majority on the floor of the House afresh.” He added that the BSP and the BJP together “do not” have the requisite numbers.

Exuding confidence that many among the ruling coalition, even those with ministerial posts, would switch sides, he said several Independents were also in touch with them.

The fact that leaders following different ideologies had come together on one platform was an indication that they had shun their differences and there would be no problem in finalising the chief ministerial candidate, he said and added, however, that he was not in the race for the coveted post. PTI, UNI