The Hindu : U.P. Opposition urges dismissal of Mayati Govt.

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, May 31, 2003

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U.P. Opposition urges dismissal of Mayati Govt.

By J.P. Shukla

Photo: Subir Roy

The RLD leader, Ajit Singh, submitting a memorandum to the Uttar Pradesh Governor, Vishnu Kant Shashtri, stating withdrawal of support to the Mayawati Government at the Raj Bhavan in Lucknow on Friday. The Samajwadi Party general secretary, Amar Singh (second from left), the CLP leader, Pramod Tiwari, (extreme right) and the AICC general secretary, Nawal Kishore Sharma (second from right).

LUCKNOW MAY 30. The Opposition parties in Uttar Pradesh today demanded the dismissal of the Mayawati Government saying that it had been reduced to a minority after the Rashtriya Lok Dal, a constituent of the BJP-led front in the State, had withdrawn support to the ruling coalition. They also expressed their resolve to form an alternative government and claimed that they had an adequate support of MLAs.

The RLD leader, Ajit Singh, accompanied by the Congress general secretary, Nawal Kishore Sharma, and the Samajwadi Party leader, Amar Singh, called on the Governor, Vishnu Kant Shastri, to inform him of his party's decision to withdraw support to the Government. They urged the Governor to dismiss Ms. Mayawati and invite the Opposition to form an alternative government.

Talking to presspersons later, Mr. Ajit Singh said the coalition Government had been formed only after his party had pledged support to Ms. Mayawati.

"There were two pillars — the BJP and the RLD — supporting the Government till now. With the withdrawal of the RLD support today one of the pillars had collapsed and the coalition government no longer has a majority. The Government should be dismissed and the Opposition allowed to form an alternative Government."

Mr. Sharma and Mr. Amar Singh supported the RLD chief's contention claiming that technically the Governor had no option but to dismiss the Mayawati Government. Asked about the number of Opposition MLAs, they said they had enough to form a Government and prove its majority on the floor of the Assembly.

Asked who would lead the new government, they said the issue would be decided soon after the Government was removed.

The Governor's stand was not immediately known.

Earlier in the day, Mr. Sharma, Mr. Amar Singh, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Kalyan Singh and Mr. Ajit Singh had detailed discussions among themselves. Mr. Mulayam Singh and Mr. Kalyan Singh later left authorising Mr. Amar Singh to represent them before the Governor.

While the technical options before the Governor could be debated, the arithmetic in the Assembly has totally changed since the Mayawati Government was installed last year. The main reason being the split in the Congress, eight of whose MLAs quit the party earlier this year. Seven of them later joined the Government and were given ministerial posts. MLAs from smaller parties and a group of nine MLAs had also supported the Government on the floor of the Assembly during the last session.

Reports meanwhile suggested that the RLD was in danger of suffering a split in its legislature group, with the Minister for Urban Development, Lalji Tandon, claiming that at least five MLAs of the party were in contact with him.

Ms. Mayawati is presently on a foreign tour.

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