Lucknow, Aug 26: Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav today met Uttar Pradesh Governor Vishnu Kant Shastri and staked claim to form government. SP is the single largest party in the state assembly with 142 seats in 402-member House. Yadav handed over a letter to the Governor which said since Samajwadi Party was the single largest party in the Assembly, it should be given a chance to form government in the state, Raj Bhavan sources said.
The letter said the Mayawati government had been reduced to minority following withdrawal of support by 86-member BJP, the sources said.
Yadav said there was a possibility of forming an alternative government and the SP, being the single largest party in the Assembly, should be given a chance to form it.
SP sources said the party has staked claim to form government in the state since it enjoys support of Congress, Rashtriya Lok Dal, Rashtriya Kranti Party and some independents. With the support of these parties, SP can easily cross the 50% mark in the state Assembly.
The word is awaited from the Governor who is keeping a close tab on the situation and working out all the possibilities before arriving at the final conclusion.
He can either accept the CM’s recommendation and dissolve the Assembly or clamp President’s rule and keep the House in suspended animation. He can also choose to neither of these and call SP to form the government.
As of now in the 402 member Assembly, Samajwadi Party has 142 MLAs, BJP has 86 MLAs, BSP 111, Congress has 16, Rashtriya Lok Dal 14 and Rashtriya Kranti Party 4. Besides there are 29 others.
Uttar Pradesh was plunged into political crisis yesterday with the BSP-BJP coalition collapsing after Chief Minister Mayawati recommended dissolution of the state Assembly and holding of fresh elections. Bureau Report