BJP forecasts ouster of Mulayam in UP poll

Lucknow, Mar 1 (UNI) Elated over its successes in Uttarakhand and Punjab assembly polls, BJP today welcomed the Supreme Court order for CBI probe into disproportionate assets (DA) case against Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav and predicting spectacular performance for the party in the coming UP election.

''The apex court order has vindicated the BJP stand, that the Samajwadi Party chief indulged in corruption,'' BJP Vice President Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told reporters here.

''Mr Yadav and his party are bound to receive worst ever drubbing in the coming assmebly poll, as the people of UP would not forgive the misappropriation of their hard earned money,'' he claimed.

''The SP-led ruling dispensation would go down in the history of UP as an epitome of corruption, anarchy and illegality in all the fields.'' he added.

The senior BJP leader, who was here to hold discussion with smaller parties of NDA on seat adjustment, drew a parallel between Mulayam and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, saying both were striving hard to outpace each other in corruption race.

''Now natural justice has to flow in the form of people's anger against SP in UP,'' he claimed.

Claiming BJP was poised to form the next government in UP on its own, Mr Naqvi said his party would regain power without the support of Mayawati-led BSP in the state.

In reply to a question, he said the BSP's announced support to Congress in Uttarakhand was not the reason behind the statement, since his party never required any pre-poll or post-poll alliance with any non-NDA party in UP.

Discounting the claim of Ms Mayawati, who incidentally held an impressive rally in the UP capital earlier in the day, the BJP Rajya Sabha MP said the ''arrogant and corrupt rule'' of BSP could never replace the ''anarchy and hooliganism of SP.'' That is why the clean and nationalist ideology of BJP stands the best chance in UP assembly poll,'' he said.

Maintaining fair and free UP poll was impossible if Mr Yadav had his say, Mr Naqvi urged the Election Commission to fully deploy central forces for smooth conduct of election.

State BJP president Keshri Nath Tripathi demanded the resignation of Mr Yadav in wake of SC order. ''It is his moral duty to resign in the light of seriousness of the DA case against him,'' he added.

UNI