QOTD: Sonia miscalculated UP?

DIAL 356 FOR EMERGENCY: Experts debate if it's politically prudent to have Prez rule in UP.

        

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Is Kalam a pawn in President polls?

Kalam has consistently said that he is not interested in a second term but that hardly matters to parties.

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• Is Kalam a pawn in President polls?
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Keywords: assembly elections 2007, uttar pradesh

“If you take action under one then how does it take aspersion on the other? There is a view that one cannot hold free and fair elections in UP as there will be horse trading. But one can’t jump the gun to impose President’s rule. There is a great amount of thought and sensitivity and everybody’s point of view is being considered,” Singhvi said.

But the Congress seems watered down after the release of the poll schedule. There was a Constitutional impropriety that was taking place in UP but the party is not talking about that anymore.

“First you put us on a peak and then you get us down. Am reiterating that there cannot be a bigger question mark on the legitimacy of the Mulayam government. But whether that will translate into President’s rule is a different question,” Singhvi said.

Dial 356 for Emergency

Left opposes the President’s rule but mostly remains silent, the BJP like to be on both sides of this debate and the regional parties can’t make up their mind. But the continuing factor in all of this is that Congress can’t resist the temptation of dismissing the state governments of parties other than their own.

The Congress has withdrawn support from the Government, the RLD has walked out, 13 members have been disqualified by the Supreme Court order, the BJP has also told the Speaker that members who voted for SP during the January 25 floor test be also disqualified. So, what is wrong if everyone does believe that there is going to be cross-voting?

“No, everybody doesn’t believe that. We believe that the Congress is trying to wean away our members. Even with 13 members less we have a clear majority. Congress is a master at such games,” Siddiqui said.

Walking the tightrope Basu said, “How can I say? What we believe is that whether Mulayam government has the majority or not should be tested on the floor.”

And concluding the discussion Singhvi said, “There is one significant error in the debate. Not 13 but all 37 were disqualified. Please read para 53 of the Supreme Court judgement. And of course there will be horse-trading. This government has always been buying MLAs and votes. So, that is the legitimacy of the UP government before you.”

Final results: Did Sonia Gandhi get it wrong in Uttar Pradesh?

Yes: 79 per cent

No: 21 per cent