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Mulayam all set to win trust vote today

Lucknow, September 7
With a breakaway Bahujan Samaj Party faction already joining the ruling coalition in Uttar Pradesh, the Chief Minister, Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav, appears to be all set to win the trust vote tomorrow in the state.

The faction with 37 members broke away from the BSP yesterday and later merged with the Samajwadi Party increasing its strength from 144 to 181 in the 403-member Assembly. Following this development, it does not matter much whether or not the 16-member Congress group in the Assembly supports the Yadav government or not.

The Congress has been dithering on the issue of joining the government.

Six more BSP MLAs have pledged their support to the Yadav government and they may also back it during the confidence motion tomorrow. Six ministers, two each from the Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Lok Dal and the Rashtriya Kranti party were inducted last night and more would be taken in after tomorrow’s trust vote.

Meanwhile, all major political parties have issued whips directing their members to take part in the voting. The BJP spokesman, Mr H.N. Dixit, said the party would ask its MLAs to oppose the motion of confidence setting at rest rumours that it could abstain from voting.

Barring the BSP and the BJP, almost all other parties, Independents and smaller outfits were likely to support the Yadav government on the floor of the House.

Sources also said yesterday’s Cabinet expansion had been undertaken to ward off any possible legal hassle arising out of a petition moved in the apex court by the Leader of the BSP Parliamentary Party Rashid Alvi challenging the formation of the new government in the state.

The Chief Minister, Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav said he was confident of proving majority on the floor of the Assembly. Similar sentiments were expressed by the leaders of the Congress, RLD and RKP.

The House may see friend-turned-foes (BSP and BJP) joining hands in opposing the Yadav government tomorrow.

The BJP Legislature Party Leader, Mr Lalji Tandon, who is set to be the Leader of the Opposition, would coordinate with the BSP to formulate the strategy. PTI