Amid reports of a second note today from the UP Governor recommending dismissal of the Mulayam Singh government, top Congress leaders held meetings through the day, indicating that a final decision was still to be taken despite announcement of polls in the state.Governor T V Rajeswar is said to have conveyed to the Centre that he suspected horse-trading in the trial of strength on February 26.Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Home Minister Shivraj Patil and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee held talks today, and Patil also met President Kalam later. Among other leaders Sonia met was Rahul Gandhi, Ashok Gehlot and UP Cong chief Salman Khursheed. While Khursheed later said the meeting was about preparations for the UP elections and had nothing to do with imposing President’s Rule there, sources in the know said Mulayam’s dismissal was not ruled out.Congress sources said there was a strong possibility of moving ahead after Mulayam’s trial of strength Monday, as the party feels the case for dismissal could get stronger with the test. If the Speaker does not decide on the fate of the 24 defected BSP MLAs and 17 others from the BJP, RLD and Congress before the voting, a case of “unconstitutionality” will be established.On an established ground of breakdown of Constitution, the legal base for dismissal will be much stronger than suspicion. In yet another indication that the Mulayam dismissal chapter is not closed yet, an anxious Samajwadi Party spokesperson said the Centre was planning to dismiss the government on frivolous grounds.Said party general secretary Amar Singh: “I have heard the Governor has sent a report to the Centre saying the last Assembly was notified on February 26, 2002, therefore, the Mulayam (Singh) Yadav government should be dismissed on February 25, as the five-year term comes to end on that date.”Singh said, under Article 172 of the Constitution, the mandate of the five-year term begins from the “date appointed for its first meeting”, which was held on May 14, 2002.
