Announcement of UP polls likely by Feb 20: Mulayam

Etawah, Feb 9 (UNI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav today indicated that announcement of the state assembly elections may be made by February 20.

Addressing a gathering after dedicating new advocates' chambers and halls here, Mr Yadav said that it was not easy to dismiss state governments on the basis of the Governor's reports alone and added ''had it been that easy, his government would have been dismissed long ago.'' He said lawyers were ''the eyes and ears'' of the judiciary.

Mr Yadav said no suicide by farmers had taken place in Uttar Pradesh and added that in Vidarbha of Maharashtra, though Rs 3500 crore had been provided as economic package to the region, suicides were still continuing there.

He added that in states where Congress was in power, farmers were committing suicides.

''The Supreme Court's verdict that the basic structure of the Constitution cannot be changed has led to real democracy in the country,'' he added.

UNI