Mulayam prepares counter strategy

Amid the rising speculation over the fate of the Mulayam Singh government in Uttar Pradesh, senior members and office bearers of the Samajwadi Party...

Amid the rising speculation over the fate of the Mulayam Singh government in Uttar Pradesh, senior members and office bearers of the Samajwadi Party will meet tomorrow at Lucknow to chart out its strategy for all possible scenarios confronting its government.

The emergency meeting has been called by party president Mulayam.

While the Centre is busy contemplating its decision in Delhi, Mulayam will be busy guessing the Centre8217;s move and preparing a strategy to counter it in Lucknow.

Earlier in the day, a delegation of Samajwadi Party leaders, led by party general secretary Amar Singh, met President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam and appraised the President on why it was illegal and unconstitutional to usher President8217;s Rule in the state. The delegation also demanded the recall of Governor TV Rajeswar for his partisan stand over the current crisis in UP.

Speaking to the media after their meeting, Singh said: 8220;We expressed our anguish to the President about the statements made by the Congress that the Mulayam Singh government was illegal and unconstitutional. However, we proved to the President that the government has 210 MLAs, even if the 37 MLAs are disqualified.8221; He also said Article 356 cannot be applied on the suspicions, whims and fancies of the Governor.

A little later, it was a determined former PM VP Singh, who led his delegation comprising of suspended SP MP Raj Babbar and others of the Jan Morcha, who petitioned the President to dismiss the Mulayam government to 8220;keep the body and spirit of democracy alive8221;.

The former PM said they had also apprised the President about quid pro quo reached between Mulayam and L K Advani resulting in the UP government not filing an affidavit against Advani in the Babri Masjid demolition case resulting in acquittal of the saffron leader.

Story continues below this ad

Mulayam accused the BJP, Congress and a big industrialist behind the attempts to topple his government in Lucknow. 8220;National leaders just drop hints. I have given the hint though I am a small leader,8221; the CM said.

He also urged the Election Commission to hold Assembly polls in the state at the earliest. 8220;The political upheaval in the state has nothing to do with the working of the Election Commission and it should go ahead and declare the poll dates,8221; he said.

8220;The Congress wants to ensure that Uttar Pradesh legislators are kept away from ensuing Presidential polls and, hence, it wants to dismiss my government,8221; he said.