SP MLAs resign en masse in U.P.

By J.P. Shukla

LUCKNOW, SEPT. 11. The Samajwadi Party members of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly resigned en masse today in a bid to force the BJP-led Government to hold early elections in the State.

In identical letters addressed to the Speaker of the House, the members stated that the term of the Assembly was going to expire next month but the State Government appeared keen on continuing in office even after that and extend the term of the Assembly, taking shelter behind Constitutional provisions. This action was ``undesirable and immoral'' which had forced them to resign their Assembly seats, the letters said.

The Samajwadi Party MLAs, led by Mr. Mulayam Singh Yadav and other leaders of the party later went to the Governor, Mr. Vishnu Kant Shastri, to inform him of the reasons for their action. A memorandum submitted to the Governor demanded immediate dismissal of the State Government followed by fresh elections to the Assembly.

The Chief Minister, Mr. Rajnath Singh, in his first reaction described the Samajwadi Party move as a ``lack of faith in the Constitution.'' He asserted that elections could be held any time before March next year and announced that the Assembly would not be dissolved as a result of the SP MLAs' resignation. He would continue to run the Government as it was ``totally in accordance with legal and Constitutional provisions.''

Talking to newspersons after his return from Raj Bhavan, Mr. Mulayam Singh Yadav demanded that the Chief Minister order immediate elections to the Assembly to enable constitution of a new House by October 17 when the Assembly completes its term.

Giving reasons for the drastic step taken by his party, Mr. Yadav said the situation in Uttar Pradesh presently was the ``worst in the post independence era.'' With ``farmers having been ruined, students being denied admission to educational institutions, murders and other crimes being committed in connivance with Ministers, and administrative corruption having reached its peak, the State was passing through a dangerous situation. Fresh elections alone could take Uttar Pradesh out of the present state of morass.''

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