Cong pressurising EC to delay UP polls: SP

Lucknow, Nov 18 (UNI) Welcoming Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav's suggestion to hold assembly polls in February next, the ruling Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh today said Congress was trying to exert undue pressure on election Commssion to delay the polls.

''Election Commission may be an independent body, but the Congress is trying to influence it,'' senior SP leader and party MP Beni Prasad Verma told reporters here.

He said as per normal practice, the polls are held on the dates recommended by the CM. ''...But in this case, despite the letter from the CM to CEC about February polls, the Congress is trying to delay the polls,'' he said quoting his 'own' sources in this regard.

Mr Verma said it was no secret the Congress was afraid of going to people.

He was also critical of the UPA government at the Centre for being opposed to reservation to creamy layer among the backwards.

''A section of the backwards is in even more pitiable condition, than the Scheduled Caste,'' he said demanding reservation for Muslims in government jobs.

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