Kalyan wins test of nerves and numbers

LUCKNOW, Feb 26: Curtains came down on the six-day-long political drama in Uttar Pradesh today with BJP leader Kalyan Singh defeating Opposi...

LUCKNOW, Feb 26: Curtains came down on the six-day-long political drama in Uttar Pradesh today with BJP leader Kalyan Singh defeating Opposition-backed Loktantrik Congress candidate Jagdambika Pal in the game of numbers. In the end, it was 225 ticks (3) for Kalyan, 196 for Pal — and no damage to the Assembly furniture.

Although the figures suggest that Kalyan’s was a clear victory, the last six days witnessed intense political activity by “MLA managers” from both camps.

Naresh Agrawal, the LC Legislature Party leader who was Pal’s Deputy Chief Minister for two days before he

returned to Kalyan, said: “The results have proved once again that only Loktantrik Congress can provide a stable Government”.

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Indeed, it was with Agarwal’s return — with 18 LC MLAs on February 24 — that Kalyan began scenting victory. And with Janata Dal (R) leader Raja Ram Pandey having a change of heart too last evening, the BJP camp was sure.

Pandey, who sat with Jagdambika Pal in Chief Minister’s chamber on February23, said yesterday that only Kalyan could provide a stable Government.

The entire opposition, Congress, Bharatiya Kisan Kamgar Party Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party, Janata Dal and the Left accused Kalyan Singh of “purchasing MLAs by virtue of being in power”. At least Rs 25 to 50 lakh was paid to buy MLAs, alleged Mayawati, Dhani Ram Varma and Congress leader Pramod Tiwari, in a joint letter to the Speaker.

Pramod Tiwari blamed Jagdambika Pal’s defeat on the Speaker’s “deliberate” delay in pronouncing his verdict on Mayawati’s petition seeking disqualification of the 12 BSP MLAs who had voted for Kalyan Singh on October 21. “Their disqualification would had resulted in an exodus of LC members from Kalyan camp ensuring my victory,” Pal claimed.

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The one-day emergency session convened as per the directive of the Supreme Court began at 11 am with Opposition MLAs objecting to Speaker Kesri Nath Tripathi’s decision to reserve verdict on Mayawati’s petition.

The MLAs demanded the verdict beforevoting started.Mayawati vehemently protested against the Speaker’s “doublespeak”. While he had shown BSPLP strength as 67, he had seated the BSP — rebels on treasury benches. “You can say whatever you have to in the Supreme Court,” was Tripathi’s curt reply.