LUCKNOW: The Congress considers the widespread poll violence and alleged misuse of official machinery by the Mulayam Singh Yadav Government in the first two phases of the Uttar Pradesh civic elections so far as a ground for dismissing it. The party has decided to apprise President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil of the situation.

The third and last phase of the local bodies polls is due on November 3, campaigning for which ended on Wednesday.

The Congress decision came after Uttar Pradesh Governor T.V. Rajeswar reportedly sent his report on the first two phases of the elections to the Union Home Ministry on Wednesday.

Earlier in the day, the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Lalji Tandon, demanded imposition of President's rule in Uttar Pradesh. Mr. Tandon cited large-scale booth capturing and rigging by the ruling party and the breakdown of law and order machinery as reasons for demanding the Mulayam Government's dismissal.

"Government should go"

Uttar Pradesh Congress president Salman Khurshid stopped short of saying that his party would demand the State Government's dismissal. "Maybe we don't have the need to demand President's rule in U.P.," he said. There was a general consensus that this Government should go, he added.

Holding Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav responsible for the violence, rigging and booth capturing, Mr. Khurshid told the media that a Congress delegation would meet Dr. Kalam and Mr. Patil and apprise them of the "facts". He said the Congress would tell them that the civic elections were used as a "dress rehearsal" by Mr. Yadav for next year's State Assembly elections. Mr. Khurshid alleged that the State's police was converted into the Chief Minister's "private army." The final shape to the proposed meeting would be given after consulting the Congress high command and Central party leaders.

Mr. Khurshid said he was in touch with party general secretary in charge of Uttar Pradesh affairs Ashok Gehlot and would give the party high command a detailed report on the polls.

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