Lucknow, Sept 06: Two days ahead of the trust vote on the floor of the Assembly, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav was today virtually assured of a smooth sailing as the BSP legislature party split and the 37 breakaway MLAs merged with the Samajwadi Party. Speaker Kesri Nath Tripathi accorded recognition to the rebel MLAs who formed Loktantrik BSP and approved its merger with the Samajwadi Party.
On a day of fast-paced developments in the run-up to trial of strength which saw change of political loyalties, the dissident MLAs broke ranks and met the speaker asking him to accord them recognition.
The BSP split and the breakaway group's merger with the SP places Yadav in a comfortable position ahead of the trust vote.
The rebel MLAs did not invite disqualification under the anti-defection law as they constitute one-third of the 109-member BSP legislature party.
With the 37 BSP legislators joining Samajwadi Party, which has 142 MLAs, Yadav claimed to have the support of 241, way ahead of the magic figure of 202 in the 403-member House.
Congress (16), Rashtriya Lok Dal (14) and 32 others are supporting Yadav.
The 87-member BJP has decided to vote against the Mulayam Singh government. Bureau Report