HVK Archives: Bhandari sheds pretence of neutrality, hopes for a non-BJP govt in UP
Bhandari sheds pretence of neutrality, hopes for a non-BJP govt in UP - The Economic Times
Posted By ashok (ashokvc@giasbm01.vsnl.net.in)
19 October 1996
Title : Bhandari sheds pretence of neutrality,
hopes for a non-BJP government in UP
Author :
Publication : The Economic Times
Date : October 19, 1996
Uttar Pradesh governor Romesh Bhandari added yet another
controversy today to his long list by admitting that he
was still hopeful that anti-BJP parties would eventually
be able to arrive at an understanding to provide a stable
government and that was why he had kept the assembly
under suspended animation.
Mr Bhandari, who was talking to journalists here today,
said he did not invite the BJP to form the government
because it had failed to 'satisfy' him about its claims
of being able to prove majority on the floor of the
House.
Since the BJP had failed to satisfy him and there were
234 MLAs who had given him an undertaking that they would
not support a BJP government, there was no question of
inviting the BJP. When asked why the assembly was kept
in suspended animation because these 234 MLAs comprising
the two formations- the BSP-Congress(I) combine and the
United Front- had failed to arrive at an understanding
and had made it clear that they were not supporting each
other either, Mr Bhandari said: "Friends become enemies
and enemies become friends in politics. I am confident
these parties would arrive at some understanding eventu-
ally provided they were given time. Time is a great
healer."
Mr Bhandari, thus made it amply clear that he was only
giving time to the anti-BJP parties to arrive at an
understanding about government formation. Mr Bhandari,
who has often been accused of harbouring anti-BJP bias,
said if he had invited the BJP to form the government and
prove its majority later on the floor of the House it
would have been 'unfair' to other parties. "It would not
have been proper if I had allowed them (BJP) to acquire
power first and then prove majority later, especially
because they had themselves claimed they could gather the
support of only four other MLAs when they staked claim
after about a week's time," the governor said.
"It would have been wrong to give this privilege and
honour to one party," he added. Mr Bhandari reiterated
that his only aim was to provide a 'stable' government
and a level playing field' to all political parties.
"There is still time and any one claiming to have support
of 213 MLAs can walk up to me and take oath even today.
The only thing he will have to do is to satisfy me that
he enjoys majority support," he said refuting charges
that he was trying to favour some individual.
Meanwhile the Bharatiya Janata Party will launch a na-
tionwide "protest week" from tomorrow against the Cen-
tre's decision to reimpose president's rule in cuttar
Pradesh which it described as "subversion of the demo-
cratic process."
Dharnas, demonstrations and public meetings would be
staged in the various state capitals to culminate in a
massive rally on October 25 in Lucknow to be addressed by
party president L K Advani.
Briefing newsmen after a meeting of central office bear-
ers here today, Party spokesperson Sushma Swaraj said
during the 'protest week', effigies of Prime Minister H D
Deve Gowda and Uttar Pradesh governor Romesh Bhandari
would be burnt.
"The fraud perpetrated on the people of Uttar Pradesh by
the Deve Gowda government is part of a larger gameplan
aimed at securing power through unconstitutional means
and denying the bjp its rightful place in the polity
gained through the electoral process," a resolution
adopted at the meeting said.
The BJP leadership discussed in detail the legal aspects
of the battle and would be consulting lawyers on steps to
be taken to challenge the Centre's decision, Mrs Swaraj
said.
The party expressed annoyance that the President Dr
Shanker Dayal Sharma did not give party leaders time
yesterday to meet him and hear their version despite a
written request by the party.
"It is a worldwide tradition that the leader of the
opposition is never refused a meeting with the head of
state and it was an unfortunate situation that the presi-
dent did not give time to the BJP,' she said.
On the Congress reaction to the re-imposition, she said
"it is appropriate but mere words are not enough to
express concern and an opportunity to act lies when the
proclamation comes for approval in the winter session of
parliament".
She hoped the Congress would carry the fight to its
logical conclusion and vote against the proclamation and
"let parliament accord its disapproval of this action."
Back
Top
|
