Cong, RLD withdraw support to Mulayam Govt, legislature meets

Lucknow, Jan 18 (UNI) In a day of hectic political developments, the Congress and the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) today withdrew support to the Mulayam Singh Yadav government in Uttar Pradesh as the two Houses of the state legislature commenced a 6-day session during which the ruling dispensation is expected to prove its majority.

Governor T V Rajeshwar's address to the joint session was marred by pandemonium created by the Opposition members who tore copies of his address, shouting slogans like 'Rajyapal Vapas Jao' (Governor, Go Back) and 'Rajyapal Sach-Sach Bolo' (Governor, read out the truth).

Although the government still enjoys majority in the Assembly even after withdrawal of support by the Congress and the RLD, political situation can abruptly change for the ruling Samajwadi Party if the expected Supreme Court verdict on the 38-member splinter group of the BSP goes against it.

The day began with a Congress delegation meeting the Governor to submit a letter of withdrawal of support. Later in the afternoon, the RLD followed suit. Both the parties have 15 members each in the Assembly.

As soon as the legislature met at 1130 hrs, the opposition in the Assembly created pandemonium, forcing Mr Rajeswar to leave the House without reading his address.

The Governor only read out the first and the last line of his address and left with the customary ''Jai Hind''.

Opposition BSP, BJP and RLD raised slogans and also held protest banners. The BSP members, wearing caps inscribed with slogans slamming the government over Nithari serial killings, wanted its dismissal on the issue.

Later, when the House reassembled at 1300 hrs, Speaker Mata Prasad Pandey tried to read out the Governor's speech, but BSP members staged a noisy walkout after tearing copies of the speech.

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