LUCKNOW: Political parties in Uttar Pradesh are busy charting their strategy in view of the expected judgement by the Lucknow Bench of Allahabad High Court this week over defection of 40 BSP MLAs to the ruling Samajwadi Party in September 2003. The decision is expected either tomorrow or on Wednesday and any observation against the U.P. Assembly Speaker's verdict might create a political crisis in the state, a senior political leader here said.

The High Court had reserved its judgement on September 9 after day-to-day hearings for the last three months.

Interestingly, all parties had already sounded their cadre to gear up for Assembly polls any time. Although the Mulayam Singh Yadav Government enjoys a majority in the 403-member U.P. Assembly, if the High Court decision goes against the defection, the State Government would be put in an awkward position and the Raj Bhawan might ask the ruling coalition to seek a confidence vote. Meanwhile, any move by the Ajit Singh-led- Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) and Congress would be watched keenly as these parties support is crucial to the State Government. While the RLD is an ally to the Samajwadi Party, the Congress is supporting it from outside. According to a political observer, the SP and the opposition BSP would be in a comfortable position if there were mid-term polls in UP. However, the BJP and Congress are yet to weigh the situation. "In case of trial of strength in the Assembly, there is a possibility that the BJP and Congress abstain from vote to save defection in their legislature party even though both parties do not want to give a pro-SP message to their supporters," the observer added.

A ruling coalition party MLA told UNI here all the parties were preparing for any political crisis in U.P. He maintained that due to the declining popularity graph of the BJP and Congress in the State, the SP and BSP were in a comfortable position at the moment if mid-term poll is held.

Earlier, on September 7, Assembly Speaker Mata Prasad Pandey had rejected the BSP petition on the defection of 13 MLAs, who were part of the 40 BSP MLAs, defecting to SP on September 6, 2003. After the victory in the trial court, the SP now is confident the High Court would also make a similar observation.

However, BSP leaders are hoping that a possible outcome of the High Court verdict in favour of the party would be morale boosting. According to sources, the first hurdle for the government, if the verdict goes against the MLAs, would be to make the defected MLAs, who are enjoying ministerial ranks resign.

"As there would be no threat to the government, that enjoys an overwhelming majority, the ruling coalition would take the matter to the Supreme Court if there is any adverse observation by the High Court," sources added.

A High Court division bench comprising Justices Jagdish Bhalla and M.A. Khan on September 9 had reserved verdict on the petition filed against the 40 rebel BSP MLAs, who had split and later merged with the SP in 2003. On September 7, the Assembly Speaker had observed that since the splinter group had been recognised by the then Assembly Speaker Kesri Nath Tripathi, it did not attract para 2 of the 10th schedule. In his 17-page decision, Mr Pandey maintained the 13 MLAs had already left the BSP on August 26, 2003 and formed a new political outfit Loktrantrik Bahujan Samaj Party. Hence, the BSP claim that they had met the Governor on August 27, 2003 as BSP members could not be proved.

As per current statistics, the ruling coalition enjoys majority with 230 MLAs in the 403-member house, including SP 195, Rashtriya Lok Dal 15, CPI(M) 2, UP Loktrantrik Congress 2 and Independents 16. -- UNI

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail