Krishnasamy denies Jaya's charge on Presidential elections

Chennai, Feb 20 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) President M Krishnasamy today denied AIADMK Supremo and former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa's charge that the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre was trying to impose President's rule in Uttar Pradesh to keep that state away from participating in the Presidential elections, due in next few months' time.

In a statement here, he said the talks of Presidential elections had not yet started so far and the political parties were only busy in preparing for the ensuing Assembly polls in Uttarakhand, and Manipur.

''The Presidential polls are scheduled only in July and the talks about it had not started,'' he added.

On her charge that the Centre was trying to impose Article 356 and bring that State under President's rule, Mr Krishnasamy said there was no need for it as the Mulayam Singh regime would fall on its own, in the wake of the Supreme court order disqualifying 13 BSP MLAs under the anti-defection law.

There was a question mark over the remaining 20 MLAs and the Mulayam Singh government had been indulging in horse-trading to ensure its continuance, he alleged.

On Ms Jayalalithaa's opposition to imposition of Article 356, he said having frequently demanded its imposition in Tamil Nadu on trivial issues, she had no right to talk about it.

''By talking about the prevailing political situation in Uttar Pradesh, she was trying to project herself as a national leader. But she will not succeed,'' he claimed.

He also stoutly denied her charge that the Congress was trying to make its nominee as the next President by imposing Article 356 rpt 356 and preventing the legislators of Uttar Pradesh, who constitute a big chunk in the electoral college, from participating in the Presidential polls.

Mr Krishnasamy said the Congress-led government at the Centre, under the guidance of AICC President Sonia Gandhi had created a conducive atmosphere by going for a consensus on all issues, he added.

UNI