Bhandari Rules Out Up House Dissolution

The Governor said he was fully prepared to invite any group or party which could convince him of enjoying a majority support in the 425-member House.

Bhandari said he wished a popular government to take over the responsibilities of the state at the earliest.

When asked if he would invite the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), the largest party in the House, to form a government in case both the United Front and the Congress-Bahujan Samaj Party combine failed, Bhandari said, democracy is purely a game of numbers. If the BJP could muster the support of 213 MLAs and convince me of its majority, I would not hesitate for a moment in extending invitation to the leader of the BJP legislature party, Bhandari said.

Asked about his earlier decision regarding re-imposition of the Presidents rule in the state, Bhandari said his job only involved informing the Centre of the fluid political situation and appraising it of the fact that no political party was in a position to form a government.

The decision to impose the central rule was taken by the Centre and not by me, he added.

Bhandari said all decisions taken so far have been in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and added that he had neither discriminated against nor favoured any party or group in the state.