Parties filling arsenal for Feb 26 'contest'

Lucknow, Feb 24 (UNI) With the resignations of 78 MLAs, including 67 of BSP, the slated confidence vote by the Mulayam Singh Yadav government on February 26 is expected to be a contest of political oneupmanship among major political parties gearing up for Uttar Pradesh assembly poll.

Although BSP's action many be replicated by BJP, Congress and RLD, the ruling party has decided to go ahead with the motion at any cost.

SP and BJP have convened their legislature party meetings tomorrow to discuss the issue, while Congress MLAs will assemble on Monday morning for this purpose.

The Congress and Jan Morcha, led by former Prime Minister V P Singh, have announced to 'gherao' the assembly on Monday to protest the ''illegal continuation'' of the SP government.

Jan Morcha leader and cinestar Raj Babbar said they will not allow the SP MLAs to enter the assembly premises on that day.

SP leader and state revenue minister Ambika Choudhury claimed the opposition was afraid to face the assembly. ''The BSP move to resign en masse will not at all affect the sitting of the house.'' The minister said it should be known if Mayawati had only mentioned about her party MLAs' resignation or the legislators were serious about it.

On the other hand, the main opposition termed the resignation of BSP MLAs, a 'walkover' to the Mulayam government.

''There is no way the Mulayam government could have proved its majority on floor of the house on February 26, but after the resignation of 67 BSP members, now the ball is in the government's court,'' BJP legislature party leader Lalji Tandon said.

''BSP move is detrimental to the opposition unity against SP in the assembly, thus giving the latter a 'walkover' on the confidence vote.'' BJP has convened an emergency legislature party meeting tomorrow to discuss the emergent political situation. ''We will decide in the meeting, if BJP would boycott proceedings of the house on February 26 and abstain from voting,'' he informed.

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.

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