Mulayam govt. running on 'unconstitutional' grounds

Lucknow, Mar 2: Bahujan Samaj Party supremo and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati today (Mar 3, 2006) asserted that the Mulayam Singh Yadav Government in UP was running on ''unconstitutional'' grounds following the HC verdict in BSP rebel MLAs case and demanded the Governor to sack it immediately.

Ms Mayawati, along with senior party leaders met Governor T V Rajeswar for over 45 minutes and handed him a memorandum, demanding the sacking of the State Government.

Quoting the verdict of the larger three-member bench which quashed the four orders of the Speaker -- including recognising split in the ranks of BSP, two orders on merger of BSP rebels into the SP and quashing of BSP's writ seeking disqualification of 13 BSP rebels-- Ms Mayawati said now the State Government was in a minority and had no right to continue in office.

The former CM also demanded the immediate resignation of the MLAs and chairmen of various boards who form part of the BSP rebel group.

''After the judgement, they are members of the BSP. Hence they have no right to continue as ministers or board chairmen in the SP government.'' Earlier today, she told reporters that the Speaker's statement yesterday that the HC has recognised the Loktantrik Bahujan Dal (LBD) and his later announcement without hearing the BSP was against the HC ruling.

Announcing that BSP would move the court against Speaker Mata Prasad Pandey's role in the case, Ms Mayawati said that it was gross misuse of power by the Speaker, only to save the ''undemocratic'' Mulayam Singh Yadav Government through ''illegal means.'' ''It is unfortunate that the Speaker has misled the media and even misquoted the HC judgement for his vested interest,'' she claimed.

Appealing to all political parties to shed their vested interests and join the BSP in its tirade against the Samajwadi-Party led government, Ms Mayawati said the situation in the state was just like it was between June one and three, 1995, when Mr Yadav broke all constitutional norms to remain in power.

''We will wait for five days before announcing our future course of action against the State Government as BSP is eagerly eyeing on the action to be taken by the Governor and the Centre against the Government,'' the former UP CM maintained.

Meanwhile, with another MLA returning to the BSP fold, now five MLAs including two ministers have announced their decision to rejoin their old party.

Ms Mayawati added, very soon more MLAs would rejoin the party.

UNI