Date:03/11/2002 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2002/11/03/stories/2002110305160100.htm

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Governor rejects demand for Assembly session

Lucknow Nov. 2. In a major reprieve for the crisis-ridden Mayawati Government in Uttar Pradesh, the Governor, Vishnu Kant Shastri, today rejected the demand for an immediate session of the Assembly for a trial of strength and the Samajwadi Party's claim to form an alternative government.

"....the status of the Government as yet remains the same,'' the Raj Bhavan said in a communiqué, breaking a day-long silence after a Samajwadi Party delegation called on the Governor on Friday and staked its claim to form the government on the basis of 204 MLAs, including 37 dissident BJP legislators.

The Raj Bhavan statement referred to Mr. Shastri's meeting with 12 dissident BJP MLAs on Thursday at which they did not convey their withdrawal of support either in writing or when asked.

The Raj Bhavan also said the memorandum given by Azam Khan, leader of the Samajwadi Legislature Party, on Friday also did not contain the names or signatures of the ``alleged'' 37 dissident BJP MLAs. ``If in future, these 37 alleged dissident BJP MLAs withdraw support from the Government or if the SP furnishes a letter signed by these MLAs withdrawing the support from the Government, it will be considered by the Governor at that time,'' the communiqué said.

The SP while staking claim on Friday had claimed the support of 204 MLAs, including the BJP dissidents, in a House of 403, two more than the half way mark.

The communiqué made it clear that till date only seven independent legislators had withdrawn support to the Government and that it still enjoyed majority.

Cong. evasive

The Congress, on whose support the Samajwadi Party was banking on for Government-formation, backed that party for convening a special session to test the strength of the Mayawati Government, but at the same time was evasive on siding with Mr. Yadav.

The former Chief Minister and leader of the Rashtriya Kranti Party, Kalyan Singh, had a meeting with the Governor and demanded the dismissal of the Government or the convening of a special session. — PTI