Guv prorogues monsoon session; Govt adamant to reconvene session

Lucknow, Jan 10 (UNI) The Raj Bhawan and the Mulayam Singh Yadav government in Uttar Pradesh are once again at loggerheads with the possibility of a constitutional crisis looming in the state on the issue of reconvening the monsoon session -- which started on August 21, 2006 -- from January 15.

Whereas Governor T V Rajeswar has prorogued the monsoon session, making null and void the UP cabinet's last night decision to reconvene the assembly session on January 15, the state government claimed the cabinet decision was taken before the Governor's decision.

It is learnt Mr Rajeswar gave his assent to prorogue the assembly session after the state cabinet approved it on January three as the House was adjourned sine-die on December 15, 2006.

State Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mohd Azam Khan today said the Governor's decision was taken after the state cabinet decided last night to reconvene the session.

''The cabinet had decided well before the Governor gave his assent to progrogue the house...the cabinet has the full power to revert its decision,'' he added. The Speaker too had notified reconvening the session last night, Mr Khan claimed.

After the Governor prorogued the session, the state government will have to send a fresh proposal to the governor by calling a fresh cabinet meeting for the new assembly session.

Since, it will be the first session of 2007, the Governor will have to address the joint session of the state legislature.

With this, the government's decision to reconvene the assembly from January 15 approved during the special cabinet meeting last night became null and void.

Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Mulayam Singh said he had convened the special session to take up some important agenda. He also did not rule out that the government would be taking vote of confidence.

Starting on August 21 last, the monsoon session with only 14 sittings was adjourned sine-die on December 15 after approving the vote-on-account for the first four months of the next fiscal.

UNI