Apprehending "premature" dissolution of UP Assembly on the pretext that its five-year term expires on February 25, Samajwadi Party on Thursday sought the intervention of President A P J Abdul Kalam, saying any such action would be "unconstitutional, illegal and undemocratic."

"This would be a gruesome murder of democracy and your Excellency must prevent this to uphold constitutional norm and governance in a civilised democratic society," party leader Amar Singh later told reporters at a hurridly called press conference.

Seeking the intervention of the President on this matter, he said there was a move initiated by the United Progressive Alliance government to prematurely dissolve the democratically elected UP state Assembly on February 25 on the pretext that the five-year term comes to an end on that date as the Assembly was constituted on February 26, 2002.

He said even the Election Commission, while announcing the seven-phase polls for the state, had said that the term of the state Assembly expires on May 14.

Asked whether he was seeking Kalam's intervention only on apprehensions, Singh said he was not apprehending but came to know through sources that attempts were being made by some Congress leaders to "shrink" the term of the state Assembly.

He said the "blatant violation" of democratic norms and constitutional mandate would be strongly opposed by the party and any move to "dissolve or dismiss" the Mulayam Singh Yadav government would amount to "subverting the Constitution, democracy, rule of law and people's mandate."

Singh clarified that the state Assembly was notified on February 26, 2002, but its first meeting or sitting was held on May 15, 2002.

Hence, he said the five-year term ends on May 14, 2007.

"The desperation with which the Congress acts, showing utter disrespect to the Constitution is despicable," he said and asserted that the SP government will go ahead with its confidence vote on February 26 "to expose the Congress cry that we have lost majority."

Asked if the party would petition court if the government was dismissed, Singh said though a final decision in this regard will be taken by the party, but if they do go to court, "it will be to check violation of Constitution through backdoor."