Bjp Leaders Question Bhandaris Intentions

Addressing a joint press conference, BJP president L K Advani and party spokesperson Sushma Swaraj said that in case of a hung Vidhan Sabha, the Governor is duty-bound to call the leader of the largest party and invite him to form the government. But the Governor has not only not done that but he has not even constituted the Assembly, full five days after the announcement of the election results. It appears that some conspiracy is afoot.

The Assembly has to be constituted by October 17 and the final results were announced by October 10. Five days have elapsed and there is no sign of notification.

 

They said that this has nothing to do with the staking of claim by any party. This is part of the Governors constitutional responsibility that the Assembly should be constituted in its proper time.

Answering questions on whether the Governor harboured an animosity towards the BJP,they said: It appears so. One can understand the anti-BJPism of our opponents, but we cant understand that in the Governor, they said.

It appears as if he is waiting for some party or coalition to come together and present their case before him so that he can decide on them.

Advani said had it been the case with the Congress party, it would not have taken the Governor even one day to go through with his constitutional provisions.

They further said that there was no need for the UF to write to the Governor to not to give an opportunity to the BJP. Although the Governor may have said that this letter has no legal sanction, he is acting on that.

When asked how the BJP would herd together another 31 MLAs in case they are invited, Advani said we have had discussions, but there names cannot be disclosed till they give their commitment to us in writing.

He further said that the BSP had declared that it was going to sit in the opposition. When asked whether it meant the BJP closing its doors on the BSP, Advani said there was no question of doors either being open or closed. On further questions on majority, he said we shall deal with the situation as it arises.

He said the question of staking claim was only an alibi that the Governor had come up with. In fact, he was settling political scores, and was disgracing the office he was holding.

The BJP top brass meeting was attended by LK Advani, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Pramod Mahajan, Sushma Swaraj, Venkiah Naidu and the two state leaders, Kalraj Misra and Kalyan Singh.