Cong-BJP gap may sabotage stand against civic rules

“I am still making efforts. We are in touch with the top leaders of Congress,BJP and SP,” said Lucknow Mayor Dinesh Sharma,chairman of the UP Council of Mayors. Sharma was,however,evasive about the response. “I can’t tell you right now,” he said.

The biggest obstacle is believed to be the Congress,which is reluctant to share platform with the BJP.

“The Congress has already rejected the idea. The party may agree to extend support to the UP Council of Mayors on this issue,” said a party leader.

While the Congress has already announced that it would observe a ‘black day’ on June 24 in protest against the new rules,BJP has selected June 26 for its protest under the name of “Loktantra Bachao”. The Samajwadi Party,which has also attacked the state government on this issue,is yet to make its next course of action public.

The BJP has appealed to the mayors of all political parties to unite and voice their objections to the Governor on June 23. Lucknow MP and former state urban development minister Lalji Tandon said this is not an issue of any particular political party,but an attack on the democratic rights of the people.

The Council has sought an appointment with Governor B L Joshi to hand over a memorandum in this regard. “We are likely to meet him on June 23. All mayors of UP will come to Lucknow on that day,” said Sharma.

He plans to invite all the mayors in the country to Lucknow to protest against the government’s decision to formulate “undemocratic rules” for municipal elections.

The All India Council of Mayors has already made it clear that it would take up the issue at its general body meeting in Mumbai,beginning June 26.

Sharma said he is also consulting lawyers to move court challenging the controversial rules.

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