Move to install Mayawati as PM gains momentum

New Delhi, July 19 (UNI) The move to make BSP chief Mayawati Prime Minister of the country in case of fall of the Manmohan Singh government today got further boost with a major UNPA constituent TDP, and also TRS endorsing the Left's view that the dalit leader was a leading contender for the top executive post of the country.

After a meeting with Ms Mayawati at her residence here, TDP chief Chandra Babu Naidu and TRS chief Chandrasekhar Rao told reporters that they were in support of prime ministership for the BSP chief.

''Why can't she ?,'' Mr Naidu counter-questioned a reporter who sought his response to CPI leader A B Bardhan's comment that Ms Mayawati was the most probable candidate for the top executive post.

Replying to another question, Mr Naidu said that he envisioned a major role for Ms Mayawati in the United National Progressive Alliance(UNPA). The Alliance, which was formed as a sort of Third Front has recently been deserted by its founder member Samajwadi party which has aligned itself with the ruling Congress on the issue of the nuclear deal.

He said that at today's meeting with Ms Mayawati, he discussed the current political situation, and the common strategy they should adopt to defeat the UPA government on the nuclear deal in Parliament.

The meeting between the two leaders lasted for over an hour.

Shortly after Mr Naidu left, TRS leader Chandrasekhar Rao also called on Ms Mayawati. After the meeting, he told reporters that all secular parties should support the candidature of the BSP chief for prime ministership of the country.

''We all want a non-Congress government at the Centre,'' said the TRS leader.

He said that all efforts were being made to persuade the undecided parties to vote against the Government on the trust motion in Parliament on July 22.

Before coming to the BSP chief, Mr Naidu also had a meeting with Left leaders.

CPI general secretary A B Bardhan had yesterday said, ''Ms Mayawati at the moment appears to be the most probable candidate for the post of Prime Minister.'' The Left parties along with TRS, TDP and BSP have come at one platform, opposing the nuclear deal and having decided to vote against the Central government.

UNI NAZ PK RAI1856