M A I N   N E W S

Mulayam wins trust vote by huge majority

Lucknow, September 8
Aided by BSP rebels, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav tonight comfortably won the vote of confidence in the state Assembly with a huge margin of 90 votes.

Mr Yadav’s confidence motion secured 244 votes in its favour and 154 against in a House of 401. A total of 398 members participated in the voting after a day-long debate.

The Chief Minister proved his majority in compliance with the directive of Governor Vishnu Kant Shastri to do so within 14 days of his assuming office on August 29.

Uncertainty had stared at the face of Mr Yadav when he had assumed Chief Ministership 11 days ago, clearly lacking the number to muster majority.

But as days went by, Mr Yadav consolidated his position by splitting the 110-member BSP Legislature Party and luring 37 of the members to merge with his Samajwadi Party, boosting its strength in the Assembly from 144 to 181.

The support of breakaway BSP MLAs left little doubt about Mr Yadav’s having a smooth sailing in the trial of strength.

Mr Yadav’s tally of votes increased by three with the joining of more BSP deserters to the Treasury bench. Two members abstained from voting.

After the 11-hour debate on the confidence motion, Speaker Keshari Nath Tripathi first called for voice vote, but on the insistence of Congress Legislature Party leader Pramod Tiwari, he gave his nod for counting of hands.

After the count, the Speaker declared 244 votes in favour of the motion and154 against, amid the thumping of desks by the ruling coalition partners Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Lok Dal, Congress, Rashtriya Kranti Party, CPM, SJP, Janata Dal (U), Samata Party and Independents.— PTI