U.P. polls crucial: PM

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, AUG. 8.It is a time of crisis, the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, is understood to have told the BJP MPs from Uttar Pradesh at a dinner meeting here this evening even as he emphasised the criticality of the coming UP Assembly elections.

The BJP MPs from U.P. have been meeting practically every week and tonight the Prime Minister also joined them at the residence of Mr. Ashok Pradhan.

The Prime Minister reportedly told them that considering how crucial U.P. elections were, the MPs ``must not sit at home'' but ``work relentlessly in their constituencies''.

Before Mr. Vajpayee came, the MPs discussed the worsening electricity situation in the State and felt that something should be done to correct this.

Fears were also expressed over the law and order situation in the State. Some apprehended communal riots and preferred to blame the Samajwadi Party for the increasing social tensions in the State.

A view that is gaining ground is that perhaps the State Assembly should be dissolved around October this year and then it should be left to the Election Commission to hold elections whenever it thinks fit. The party MPs believe such a strategy would help fight the expected opposition propaganda that the BJP Government is using a technicality to stay in power beyond five years. The 1996 Assembly elections were held around September-October but no Government was formed till March 1997. The Election Commission has scheduled the U.P. elections for March 2002.

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Section  : National
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