The Hindu : Uncertainty in Uttar Pradesh; SP single largest party

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Feb 25, 2002

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Uncertainty in Uttar Pradesh; SP single largest party
By J.P. Shukla

Prominent winners: Rajnath Singh, Mayawati, Kalyan Singh.

LUCKNOW, FEB. 24. Uttar Pradesh today entered into yet another era of uncertainty with the State Assembly election throwing up a badly fractured verdict.

The election brought almost a rout of the Bharatiya Janata Party which lost the number one position in the State's politics to the Samajwadi Party. The BJP and its allies together were expecting to get 110 seats in a house of 403. The Samajwadi Party, with a leading position in nearly 150 constituencies has emerged at the top but was yet far away from a clear majority.

The most surprising aspect of the election was, however, the unexpected gains for the Bahujan Samaj Party which was leading in nearly 95 constituencies as the situation emerged this evening.

The Congress was leading in about 25 constituencies and others in nearly 30 constituencies as last results came in.

Political parties this evening appeared to be in a fix over the picture of the new Government. While the BJP promptly conceded its defeat, the Samajwadi Party was not confident of forming the Government with its strength. And, even if the Congress decides to extend its total support to the Samajwadi Party, it does not expect to touch the mark of 202, necessary to have an absolute majority in the Assembly.

The Chief Minister, Rajnath Singh, taking the blame, submitted his resignation to the Governor, Vishnu Kanth Shastri, this evening even before the last results had come in. Mr. Singh, who won from Haidergarh, has been asked to continue till alternative arrangements are made.

The State BJP president, Kalraj Mishra, has also announced to quit accepting the responsibility for the defeat of his party.

While for record BJP leaders stressed that they were ready to sit in the Opposition, they appeared to be weighing the option of forming a government in coalition with the Bahujan Samaj Party, if not now, at least some time later.

The most dangerous aspect of the election results for the BJP was that it was not in a position to prevent the Samajwadi Party from coming to power even with the support of the BSP. This was because the BJP allies in the Government were vulnerable enough to be won over by the SP leader, Mulayam Singh Yadav, without much of an effort. The BJP takes its comfort only in the unending bitterness between the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party leader, Mayawati, who won the Harora seat.

Ms. Mayawati cannot be expected to join hands with Mr. Yadav in any situation at least for the time being.

I accept defeat: Rajnath

Talking to newspersons after submitting his resignation, Rajnath Singh said the Assembly results had been unexpected and he had humbly accepted his defeat. Mr. Singh evaded all questions regarding his party strategy in the new scenario. ``I want that the State gets a stable Government. I expect that the Governor would keep this factor in mind while taking his next decision.``

When asked if his party would support the BSP or take the latter's support to form a Government, he said, it was for the single largest party to form a stable Government. The SP has to convince the Governor that it was in a position to give a stable Government. He was not concerned with any thing else at the moment. As for the causes for the BJP debacle, he said these would be analyzed after the detailed results were available.

The Governor has also mentioned that stability would be the major criteria for him before accepting the claim of a leader to form the next Government. While academicians were debating the legal and constitutional provisions to be kept in mind by the Governor, Mr. Shastri said in reply to reporters' questions that it was his prerogative to satisfy himself about the stability of a Government before allowing it to take reins of the State.

The political developments were also hinting at imposition of President's rule as was done in 1966 after the last Assembly elections under the governorship of Romesh Bhandari. This would only help the BJP to overcome its humiliation before it decides to take the next move in political manipulations.

U.P. party position

NEW DELHI, FEB. 25. Following is the party position in Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections at 1.30 a.m.

Total seats             403

Elections held          403

Seats declared          348

BJP                      77

Congress                 25

SP                      124

BSP                      82

Others                   40

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