RLD ministers resign; SP claims no threat to Mulayam govt

Lucknow, Jan 9: In a sudden development leading to a political crisis ahead of the crucial assembly poll, three ministers belonging to the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) today resigned from the three-year-old Mulayam Singh Yadav government in Uttar Pradesh.

However, the ruling Samajwadi party claimed that the resignations would not affect the government and it will complete its term.

SP general secretary and state PWD minister Shivpal Singh Yadav told mediapersons here the government enjoys an absolute majority in the assembly.

''Although we do not know the reason behind the decision of the RLD, the state government has done enough for the farmers and the cane price is much more here than in other states,'' Mr Yadav claimed.

Earlier, Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) supremo Ajit Singh announced that a letter about the resignation of its ministers would be sent to the Chief Minister, asserting that RLD's alliance with the SP ''is over''.

Asked if his party would continue to support the ruling dispensation, he said the RLD executive next week would decide on the issue. ''The UP polls are due shortly and there is no assembly session in the near future. Therefore, the issue of continuation of support has no meaning.'' The RLD took the step to register its protest over the 'marginal' hike in State Advisory Price (SAP) of sugarcane announced by the CM in the recently-concluded monsoon session of the assembly.

While the RLD had demanded the SAP to be Rs 200 per quintal, the government had hiked it to Rs 122 per quintal.

The RLD chief also denied the decision had anything to do with the Kavita Rani murder case in which one of his ministers Babu Ram had to resign and another ex-minister Dr Mirajuddin had to quit the party.

The ministers, who handed in their resignations, are: Mr Virendra Singh (Animal Husbandary) and Mr Kokab Hamid (Tourism), both of the cabinet rank, and minister of state Swami Omvesh (Cane development).

Irrigation and Flood Commission chairperson Anuradha Chaudhury, who is a Lok Sabha member and enjoys the rank of a cabinet minister, also submitted her resignation.

Mr Singh said the decision to tender resignations was final. ''We will not budge from our stand,'' he maintained.

Mr Singh also asked the SP MLAs to resign from the assembly in February when the term of the House expires after five years.

SP leader Shivpal Singh Yadav said the government never ignored the RLD demands, but as the government had given ''more than enough'' to cane farmers, there should be no grievances. ''When the government announced SAP in assembly, then also RLD members supported the decision, but now they are opposing it.'' On the other hand, RLD supremo claimed he had written three letters to the Chief minister on December 12, 19 and 25 urging him to hike the SAP. ''But, he even refused to acknowledge my letters,'' Mr Singh lamented.

The former union agriculture minister maintained that SAP in Haryana was much higher compared to UP. ''Farmers are suffering due to the treatment of the state government,'' he alleged.

RLD has 15 MLAs and till recently had five ministers in the state government.

While irrigation minister Merajuddin had resigned after he failed to get elected to either houses of state legislature within six months of his assuming office, another minister Babu Ram had to step down following allegations of his involvement in the Kavita Rani murder case, now referred to the CBI by UP.

Earlier on November 24, altogether 21 legislators from different political parties had paraded before UP Governor T V Rajeswar in support of the Mulayam government following apprehension of withdrawal of support by the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD).

Of the total 21 MLAs, 12 belonged to the BJP, six Independents, two BSP and one Congress. Five of the BJP MLAs have already been declared as unattached by the Speaker.

All these MLAs have joined the ruling SP during the past six months and they have either been suspended or expelled from their parent political parties.

Presently, the ruling coalition enjoys a clear majority in the house, but if RLD withdraws support then it might fall short of a few numbers.

The present house term expires on May 14, which is less than six months' time. Hence, no by-elections would be held for the vacant seats.

At present, in the house of 404 member assembly,the SP led coalition is supported by 152 members of the SP, 33 Loktrantrik Bahujan Dal (LBD), 15 RLD, one CPI(M) and 2 Loktrantrik Congress, besides most of the 16 independents.

The opposition BJP has 83 members, BSP 67 and Congress 15.

Others include one each of Hindus Mahasabha, Akhil Bharatiya Congress and one nominated. Two seats are vacant and six unattached.

On the court order, membership of nine MLAs -- five of LBD and four of SP has been retained, who were disqualified by the speaker.

UNI