BJP criticises BSP move of legislators' resignation

Lucknow, Feb 24 (UNI) Critical of the BSP move of its legislators resigning ahead of the confidence vote to be sought by the Mulayam Singh Yadav government in Uttar Pradesh, BJP today claimed by doing so, the Mayawati-led BSP had given a 'walkover' to the Samajwadi Party-led dispensation.

''There is no way, the Mulayam government could have proved its majority on floor of the house on February 26, but for the resignation of 67 BSP members,'' BJP legislature party leader Lalji Tandon told newspersons here.

''The BSP move is detrimental to the opposition unity against SP in the assembly, thus giving the latter a 'walkover' on the confidence vote,'' he added.

BJP has convened an emergency legislator party meeting tomorrow to discuss the political situation emerging out of this development.

''We will decide in the meeting, if BJP would boycott proceedings of the house on February 26 and abstain from voting,'' he said.

Asked if the party would follow suit and direct resignation of its members, Mr Tandon said BJP would make an indpendent assessment of the situation. ''The BSP step will have no impact on it.'' He said had BSP, Congress and BJP united on floor of the house, SP would have been in no position to prove its majority.

''In any case, the UP assembly poll has already been announced and the February 26 session of the state assembly is meaningless,'' Mr Tandon, also the Leader of the Opposition in UP assembly said.

He said Congress had also proved it had no spine, otherwise the imposition of President's Rule in UP would have been the logical conclusion under the present scenario.

The leader also repulsed the claim of BSP supremo Mayawati that five BJP members had joined her party. ''They have been facing disciplinary action since last six months and they had no longer any connection with the BJP,'' he added.

UNI