Mulayam wins confidence vote; Oppn seeks UP govt dismissal

Lucknow, Jan 25 (UNI) Amidst cross-voting by the members and boycott by the Opposition in the Uttar Pradesh assembly, the Mulayam Singh Yadav government today won a crucial vote of confidence, mustering a comfortable support of 223 votes in the house of 404.

The ruling party polled 223 votes in its favour during a Lobby Division, even after it won the confidence motion by a voice vote.

At least 17 MLAs, 10 of BJP, four of BSP and three of RLD crossed sides and voted in favour of the government.

The opposition, which had boycotted the proceedings of the House over remarks of a senior minister on rigging in elections, this evening met the Governor to seek the dismissal of the government to ensure free and fair assembly poll in the state.

Representatives of BSP and the Congress met Governor T V Rajeswar at Raj Bhawan this evening and handed him separate memoranda in this regard.

Mr Agarwal had said in the House yesterday: ''Sarkar pe nikay chunav ke doran dhandli ke arop lag rahe hain...agar mein mananiya mukhya mantri ki jagah hota to dhandli kar ke dihkata (there have been allegations of rigging on the ruling party during the local urban body elections...had I been there instead of the CM, I would have carried out rigging, as being charged by the opposition).'' Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Pramod Tiwari said the remarks by the minister indicated the design of the SP government to rig the assembly election due shortly.

''Any remarks by a minister is considered the collective responsibility of the council of ministers...the CM neither punished the minister nor did he sought an apology. This shows the ruling party is serious about rigging assembly election too,'' he said.

In the number game, the state government enjoys support of 152 SP members, 33 Loktrantrik Bahujan Dal, 12 of 16 Independents, 6 unattached, 2 UP Loktrantrik Congress and one CPI(M).

The Opposition now comprises BJP 83, BSP 67, Congress 15, RLD 15, Akhil Bharatiya Congress 1 and Hindu Mahasabha 1.

The total strength of the house is 404, with two seats vacant at present, while 9 members have no voting rights (5 of LBD and 4 of SP), who were earlier disqualified by the Speaker, but judiciary had put a stay on the ruling.

Mr Yadav sought a vote on the motion of thanks to the Governor's address and said the same be treated as a vote of confidence. While the two motions were passed by a voice vote, the ruling party sought a Lobby Division from the speaker.

Later, Mr Yadav talking to mediapersons said the vote of confidence was necessitated after RLD withdrew support from the government earlier this month and there was a confusion whether the government had lost majority.

''If required, government will seek more confidence vote in future,'' he said.

The state cabinet had decided to go for the winter session after RLD withdrew three of its ministers from the ruling dispensation over poor hike in cane prices by the government on January 9 and later withdrew its support from the government on January 18.

On the other hand, the Congress also withdrew its 'technical' support on January 18.

Earlier, the assembly witnessed pandemonium when the entire Opposition comprising BJP, BSP, the Congress and RLD boycotted the House proceedings after their demand of resignation of state transport minister Naresh Agarwal was rejected by the government over his reported remark on rigging in polls.

The Chief Minister said the Opposition had escaped from a certain defeat in the vote of confidence vote by boycotting the House and Mr Yadav gave his reply to the Motion of Thanks on Governor's address without their presence.

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