SP fears ''backdoor'' dissolution, seeks Kalam's intervention

New Delhi, Feb 22 (UNI) Apprehending that the Congress may ''force'' the UPA government to impose President rule in Uttar Pradesh despite the announcement of poll schedule in the state, the Samajwadi Party today sought the intervention of President A P J Abdul Kalam in the matter.

''We have learnt that a big chunk of the Congress is bent on dissolving the state Assembly, putting forward a new argument that the term of the House expires on February 26, when it was notified in 2002, and not on May 15, when its first sitting was held that year,'' SP general secretary Amar Singh told a news conference tonight.

This conspiracy was being hatched despite that fact that Article 172 of the Constitution was very clear that the five- year term of the Assembly begins from the date appointed for its first meeting, he alleged.

The SP today wrote a letter to the President, drawing his attention to the ''overtly unconstitutional move reportedly being initiated by the UPA Government to prematurely dissolve the democratically elected Assembly on February 25.'' The letter claimed that as the Congress had been unable to invokes Article 356 for dismissing the Mulayam Government due to pressure from the Left-democratic forces, it was trying to take an easier route to dissolve the democratically elected Assembly.

To support its allegation, it refered to an article carried by the February 26 edition of a magazine.

Mr Singh said the Congress-led by Sonia Gandhi should try to oust the Samajawadi Party in the elections instead of forcing its exit by ''unconstitutional means.'' UNI