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Thanks to BSP, Congress hopes run high in UP

Atiq Khan

Mahana appointed election agent for Shekhawat

LUCKNOW: Hopeful of the support of the ruling Bahujan Samaj Party, the Rashtriya Lok Dal and independent MLAs, the Congress is optimistic that Uttar Pradesh will play a prominent role in the election of United Progressive Alliance-Left candidate Pratibha Patil as the country’s first woman President.

The All-India Congress Committee has sent Ravi Mallu and Avinash Pandey as observers for the election, to be held on Thursday. The party leadership has been in discussion with the RLD and independent MLAs over the last three days. The process of holding talks with like-minded MLAs started with Ms. Patil’s visit to the city on July 13, where she was the guest at a dinner hosted by Chief Minister Mayawati.

At a press conference on Wednesday, Congress Legislature Party leader Pramod Tiwari and State unit chief Salman Khurshid said since the Chief Minister herself was taking keen interest in Ms. Patil’s candidature, the BSP’s support was assured. This was reflected in Rural Development Minister Daddu Prasad being appointed as Ms. Patil’s election agent.

Welcoming the Election Commission’s ruling that there was no whip and no bar on MLAs or MPs from abstaining, Mr. Tiwari said the Bharatiya Janata Party had been isolated in the election. He accused it of denigrating the office of the President by levelling false and baseless allegations against Ms. Patil.

While the UPA stood united, disunity marked the National Democratic Alliance as the Trinamool Congress, the National Conference and the Shiv Sena had decided to support Ms. Patil, he said.

On Tuesday, Ms. Mayawati conducted a training programme for BSP MLAs and MPs for the Presidential election at the party headquarters here. According to BSP sources, she briefed her partymen how to cast their votes. A dress rehearsal was conducted, with the members being apprised of the dos and don’ts of voting. She directed the electors to remain here on July 19 and reach the polling centre on time.

The BJP on Wednesday appointed Satish Mahana, MLA, as election agent for the NDA-backed independent candidate Bhairon Singh Shekhawat.The Samajwadi Party, a constituent of United National Progressive Alliance or the Third Front, has decided to abstain.

Meanwhile, all preparations have been made for the election. According to Returning Officer Rajendra Prasad Pandey voting will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Secretariat. The strength of the Assembly is 403.

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