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Bhandari welcomes SC order

Uttar Pradesh governor Romesh Bhandari has welcomed the judgment of the Supreme Court regarding the UP developments, saying the judgment gives the two claimants to chief ministership equal opportunity in proving their majority in the house.

This is a decision which the governor could not have taken. It is an innovative and salutary decision which would strengthen our democratic processes and which could now deal with unique situations as have prevailed in Uttar Pradesh, Bhandari said, according to an official release.

The main objective of the governor was to see that no side gets undue advantage by virtue of being in office, he said.

The Supreme Court, while declining to stay the Allahabad high court order restoring the Kalyan Singh government, today ordered for a composite floor test on February 26 to decide as to which of the claimants enjoyed majority in the assembly.

Bahujan Samaj Party vice-president and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati described the sitution in Uttar Pradesh as very delicate and said there was no other option but to hold fresh assembly elections to save democracy.

Addressing a press conference in Lucknow following the Supreme Court order on Jagdambika Pal's special leave petition and the BSP writ petition regarding 13 rebel BSP MLAs, she said horse-trading had started since Monday night. It had intensified following the Supreme Court's directive for convening a special session of the assembly for a floor test to establish as to whom of the two contenders enjoyed the confidence of the house, she added.

UNI

Elections '98

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