CM statements on EC irk BSP

Una, Oct 13 (UNI) Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) secretary and former minister Vijay Joshi today termed Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh's outburst against the Election Commission as reflection of a 'perturbed mind-set'.

Talking to mediapersons here, he said this only proved that the Chief Minister wanted to announce major sops to please all sections of the society, just before the elections.

Mr Singh had reportedly questioned the ''need'' for the Election Commission to announce early polls and also the discussion among the senior Congressmen regarding approaching the Supreme Court against the EC decision.

Mr Joshi wanted to know what had stopped Virbhadra Singh from making announcements during the last four and a half years. He said the Chief Minister was aware of the defeat that their party will receive at the elections and hence was afraid to face the people of the state.

The Chief Minister was well informed about all developments that precipitated into the EC decision, he said, adding that the three tribal MLAs had filed a case in the state High Court, regarding holding simultaneous elections in the three tribal seats with the remaining 65 Assembly seats.

Consequently, he said the EC had convened an all-party meeting of state leaders on 20 September this year, which was attended by the Congress, BJP and BSP representatives.

All parties had stated that they were ready for elections, he said. He remarked that if the dates do not suit the Congress party or Virbhadra Singh, they should boycott the elections.

UNI