UP Governor reports political situation to Centre

Lucknow, Feb 17: Uttar Pradesh Governor T V Rajeswar has sent his report to the Centre on the recent political developments in the state after the Supreme Court's verdict disqualfying 13 BSP MLAs who had defected from the party.

Sources here said the two-page report was sent by the Raj Bhawan this morning.

However, it has been learnt that the report describes in detail the developments along with the demand of different political parties, including Congress, BJP, BSP and their views on the Court's ruling.

The report also speaks about likely 'horsetrading' in the present political situation.

Last night, it was said, the Governor had sent his preleminary report to the Centre and there was a telephonic talk between Mr Rajeswar and Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil.

On the other hand, after announcing last night that the government will go for a trust vote on February 26, Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav has refused to step down from the post.

A report from Uttarakhand said during electioneering, Mr Yadav categorically said that his government enjoyed absolute majority in the Assembly and there was no question of his resignation.

''If the Centre wants they can dismiss me,'' he said.

Meanwhile the UP Assembly is yet to notify the disqualification of the 13 MLAs as per the direction of the Supreme Court Constitution Bench.

State Principal Secretary (Assembly) A N Mittal said notification for disqualification of the 13 MLAs is yet to be made as the Assembly Secretariat was still awaiting the certified copy of the apex court's directive.

''We are awaiting the copy of the Supreme Court directive and will act accordingly,'' he said.

The Secretariat will reopen on Monday and the notification is likely to be issued next week, he said.

After resignation of six ministers on Thursday, who had been disqualified by the Supreme Court, the future of the remaining 24 MLAs of the Loktrantrik Bahujan Dal (LBD) is also threatned as their number was well under the one-third majority on September 6, 2003.

The 13 MLAs had been disqualified with retrospective effect from August 27, 2003.

If notified, it will be the tenth President's rule in UP.

Last time President's rule was imposed in the state in 2002, after the assembly polls, when no party could form the government.

In 1968, President's rule was imposed in the state for the first time.

UNI