Bhandari says he prevented horse-trading by Kalyan
Uttar Pradesh Governor Romesh Bhandari,
while dismissing the Kalyan Singh government, is understood to have
chosen the "most democratic" method of allowing a group which
claimed the majority to keep its flock together instead of allowing a minority
group to "fill up the gap" through horse-trading.
In his report to President K R Narayanan, the governor is
learnt to have said that his decision was to avoid the question of
horse-trading to the maximum extent possible.
According to sources, Bhandari also communicated to the
President that he took the decision of dismissal after deep thought
and consultation with experts about the precedents. He stated
that Kalyan Singh did not agree to resign even after his
government was reduced to a minority.
Bhandari is also understood to have stated that Loktantrik
Congress leader Jagdambika Pal's claim was supported by letters
from leaders of all parties except the BJP and the Samata Party. The
letters were from entire groups and not from any breakaway faction.
Under the anti-defection law it is now an accepted parliamentary
practice that a letter from the leader of a party is accepted by
the head of state signifying support or withdrawal, the governor is
understood to have pointed out.
Though the S R Bommai case related to the dismissal of a government under
Article 356 of the Constitution, the governor said he was following
the judgment that a majority or otherwise should be tested on the
floor of the House.
He has also recalled the precedent of June 1995 when the governor
overruled the request of the then chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav
to test his majority after the Bahujan Samaj Party withdrew its
support from him.
UNI
Elections '98
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