SC ruling on rebel MLAs: Oppn demands Mulayam's resignation

Lucknow, Feb 14 (UNI) The Opposition in Uttar Pradesh today demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav following a Supreme Court judgement disqualifying 13 MLAs of the Loktantrik Bahujan Dal (LBD) who had helped Samajwadi Party form government in 2003.

Leader of the Opposition in the legislative assembly and BJP legislature party leader Lalji Tandon termed the development as a constitutional crisis. ''In a bid to maintain democratic norms, the Chief Minister should immediately step down,'' he said.

Senior BSP leader Dr Satish Mishra said by disqualifying 13 BSP MLAs who had split to join SP, the remaining 24 MLAs automatically stood disqualified.

''The apex court has maintained democratic standards by delivering the judgement which has proved that the Mulayam Singh government was in a minority from the very beginning,'' he pointed.

Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Pramod Tiwari, while expressing similar sentiments said the CM should resign immediately.

''And if he does not, the Constitution should do its work.'' A Congress delegation is likely to meet the Governor either tonight or tomorrow on the same issue.

The apex court, dismissing the appeals of 37 MLAs against Allahabad High Court judgement dated February 28, 2006, held that in the circumstances of the present case there was no such split.

The High Court had directed the Speaker to decide the complaint of BSP against 13 MLAs who defected on August 27, 2003, before deciding the fate of remaining MLAs of the breakaway group.

Then UP Assembly Speaker Kesari Nath Tripathi had, instead of deciding the complaint of BSP, waited till September 6, 2003. By then the strength of the breakaway group had gone upto 42.

Mr Tripathi held that since the strength of the breakaway group was more than 1/3 of the total strength of the BSP in the Assembly, there was a split in Mayawati's party and not defection. The Speaker's decision was challenged by BSP in High Court. The High Court directed the Speaker to decide the fate of 13 MLAs who had defected on August 27, 2003 and then decide the fate of the rest.

Five of the 42 MLAs had gone back to the parent party after the High Court's verdict. They were later disqualified by the Speaker and they also challenged their disqualification by the Speaker in the Supreme Court.

Former UP Chief Minister and BSP Supremo Mayawati had alleged that the defections had been engineered by Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav through corrupt means. All the defecting MLAs were made either ministers in the state or appointed as chairpersons of various boards and PSUs in the state with cabinet rank.

Though the Supreme Court has not specifically clarified the fate of remaining 24 MLAs, by the implication of the judgment they also stand disqualified.

Today's verdict is a major setback for the Samajwadi party goverment headed by Mr Yadav in the politically most significant state of the country where the Assembly elections are to be held soon.

UNI