With Mayawati out, Mulayam eyes UP taj

NEW DELHI: A united Opposition in UP has said governor Vishnu Kant Shastri should give other political parties an opportunity to form a government, instead of accepting chief minister Mayawati’s recommendation for an early poll or suggesting imposition of Central rule. Going by the general mood of its legislators — who do not want an early election — and to avoid an exodus from its ranks, the Samajwadi Party has said since it is the single largest party, it should be invited to form the next government.
The Congress and the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), too, have spoken in the same vein for the same reason.At the same time, the Opposition parties are yet to decide as to when they would stake claim to form the government. Opposition leaders — Congress president Sonia Gandhi, RLD chief Ajit Singh and Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh — were in constant touch with other each other throughout the day as they monitored the unfolding drama in UP. Both Amar Singh and Ajit Singh maintained that there is complete unity among the Opposition parties, which will take a “collective� decision on its future plans.
While the official position of the Opposition leaders is that they should be given an opportunity to form an alternative government, unofficially, they admit that the chances of the governor extending such an invitation to them is highly unlikely. Shastri, they maintain, is an RSS member and cannot be expected to take any decision which will undermine the BJP’s interests in the state.
“We are moving very cautiously. We will decide on our next course of action only after a clear picture emerges,� explained Samajwadi Party general-secretary Amar Singh. He said the Opposition is also awaiting the decision of the BJP Parliamentary Board, which is meeting here on Tuesday to decide its strategy.
Opposition leaders said the BJP would certainly not like the Opposition to come to power as it would impact adversely on the coming assembly elections in four major states. “Not only would this give the Opposition an opportunity to test its new-found unity, but will also send out a powerful message that the BJP has weakened and the Opposition gained in strength,� said a senior Opposition leader, adding that the BJP would rather avoid such a situation. It would, instead, prefer a spell of President’s rule, thus ensuring that the next assembly poll is conducted under its eagle eye.