UP Assembly passes resolution to divide state into four parts

Uttar Pradesh Assembly on Monday passed the Mayawati government resolution to divide the state into four parts by voice vote even as the winter session of the Assembly was adjourned sine die on the first day itself amid pandemonium by the Opposition.

The resolution divides UP into Purvanchal (eastern UP), Bundelkhand, Awadh (central UP) and Paschim Pradesh (western UP). Now the resolution would be sent to the central government for consideration. Earlier on November 15, the state Cabinet had cleared this proposal.

The vote on account for first four months of 2012-13 financial year was also passed by the Assembly amid din.

No sooner did the house assembled in the day than the Opposition members, especially Samajwadi Party (SP) legislators holding placards and banners, started shouting slogans flaying the Mayawati government on corruption charges. The house was adjourned until 1220 hours.

When the house assembled again, it conducted its legislative business, including vote on account. Later, the house was adjourned sine die.

Earlier, SP had given a notice to Assembly speaker Sukhdev Rajbhar to bring a no-confidence motion against the government claiming the Mayawati regime had reduced to a minority.

However, addressing the media, chief minister Mayawati said, “Passage of vote on account in Assembly was de facto winning confidence vote as was the case in December 2006, when Mulayam Singh Yadav government was at the helm in UP.”

Mayawati maintained her government wanted a debate on the issue of UP division in Assembly, but the din created by Opposition members prevented it. “The charge of Opposition parties that my government brought the resolution for political reasons holds no ground, as we have been pursuing the issue with Centre since 2007 by writing a series of letters. However, we had to take the initiative, when the Congress-led central government failed to take any step,” she told media.

UP has 403 Assembly seats with BSP having 216 MLAs, SP 88, BJP 48 and Congress 20 members, Rashtriya Lok Dal 10 and independent 10. Besides, there are some vacancies and at least two members had been disqualified under Anti Defection Law by the speaker.