Cong likely to vote against Mulayam Government in UP

NEW DELHI: Congress is likely to vote against the beleaguered Mulayam Singh Yadav Government in Uttar Pradesh in the trial of strength on Thursday going by the stand adopted by the party in the run up to the Assembly elections not far off.

The state Congress had only recently withdrawn support to the Yadav Government making a scathing attack on the SP-led coalition for its failures on various fronts and the deteriotating law and order situation.

Party sources said the only other option that could be exercised by the 15-member legislature group is a boycott of the proceedings when the vote on general address takes place because of the strange relationship between the parties.

Samajwadi Party which has 37 members supports the Congress-led coalition at the Centre.

Congress' withdrawal of support is unlikely to have an effect on the stability of the Mulayam Singh led coalition which enjoys slight majority with the backing of a number of independents besides allies.

He has the support of about 210 MLAs in a House with an effective strength of 409.

The Congress high command had to bow to the continued pressure from the state unit and allow it to withdraw support in the backdrop of the strained relations between the two parties for the past over three years.

AICC General Secretary Ashok Gehlot merely said that it was for the state unit to take a decision on the issue ahead of the vote.