Kesri demands Kalyan's dismissal

Congress president Sitaram Kesri has demanded the dismissal of the Kalyan Singh government and imposition of President's rule in Uttar Pradesh.

Bharatiya Janata Party president Lal Kishinchand Advani for his part has threatened to launch a nationwide agitation if the Kalyan Singh government is dismissed.

Kesri made his demand in course of a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral. The Cabinet is currently discussing developments in the politically crucial state. An earlier meeting, lasting four hours, had discussed the incidents of the day in the UP assembly, but adjourned with no concrete decision taken.

Prime Minister Gujral has sought some clarifications from UP Governor Romesh Bhandari. President K R Narayanan, who was away in Gwalior through the day, also returned to the national capital late on Tuesday night.

Alleging that Kalyan Singh's victory in the vote of confidence was the result of money and muscle power, Kesri said that President's rule was in fact overdue in the state. "It should have been imposed as soon as the BSP withdrew support to the BJP government," the Congress boss argued.

Asked if the Congress would act against those who had rebelled and walked out to form a breakaway party, Kesri said the rebels themselves had taken all the action necessary in the circumstances. "It is very good that the pro-BJP elements have of their own accord left the party," he said.

BJP spokesperson Sushma Swaraj told the media in New Delhi that "If the Union Cabinet decides to dissolve the UP assembly, our party will not tolerate it. We will launch a massive, nationwide agitation to protest such an un-Constitutional move."