Mulayam should quit on moral grounds: Paswan

Lucknow, Feb 23 (UNI) Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) supremo and Chemicals&Fertilizers and Steel Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan today demanded Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav step down immediately on moral grounds after the Supreme Court's verdict on the defected BSP MLAs.

''President's Rule can be enforced in UP, if Samajwadi Party does not relinquish power to honour the SC judgement,'' he commented.

Addressing a meet-the-press programme on the eve of LJP's political rally here tomorrow, Mr Paswan said President's Rule was required as the present government was bent upon seeking trust vote, which means horse-trading would be resorted to.

''The UP CM should resign immediately to uphold the dignity of Judiciary, which has passed stricture against the Speaker action,'' he said.

Commenting on SP's move to support mega Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan for the post of President, he said nor Mr Bachchan is a serious candidate neither any party other than SP would support his candidature.

Announcing that LJP will have pre-poll alliance with the VP Singh led Jan Morcha in UP, Mr Paswan said all details about seat sharing would be decided in the meeting slated on February 26.

In tomorrow's rally, former Prime Minister V P Singh, cinestar Raj Babbar and UP minister Haji Yakub Qureshi will share dias with Mr Paswan.

Ruling out any poll pact with the Congress, Mr Paswan disclosed in earlier stages, LJP was keen on forging an alliance with the party, ''but now it is too late.'' Criticising BSP, he said it had only used dalits for vote bank politics and done nothing for the community.

UNI