Opposition refuses to vacate UP Assembly!

February 22, 2011 02:32 IST

The Uttar Pradesh State Assembly was adjourned sine die after daylong uproar that culminated in a prolonged sit-in demonstration that continued until late Monday night.

Almost the entire opposition joined the demonstration that was provoked in protest against the ruling Bahujan Samaj Party's decision to make use of the din in the house to get all the pending bills passed by voice vote.

The opposition initially rose up in arms to thwart the ruling party's bid to rush through an amendment bill which aimed at bringing an end to the ongoing practice of direct election of mayors.

Tempers ran high as the ruling party chose to ignore loud protests by the opposition who alleged that BSP's intent behind the move was to circumvent the democratic process and fuel horse-trading.

Even as the ruling party members and even Speaker Sukhdeo Rajhbhar left the house, opposition members stayed on in

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the house. "The Speaker must reconvene the house and all the bills that were passed in a jiffy must be tabled afresh", said Ambika Chaudhary, senior leader of the Samajwadi Party, the largest opposition group in the house.

The Congress and the Rashtriya Lok Dal followed course, though Bhartiya Janata Party's members dispersed from the house in the evening.

While the Speaker was not available for comment, assembly secretary Pradeep Dube told reporters, "I am waiting for instructions from the Speaker."

Meanwhile, the marshal of the house got the galleries cleared of the media and other persons. Unrelenting opposition members, however remained perched on their seats even after 10 pm with no sign of any compromise from either side.

Sharat Pradhan in Lucknow