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The fortunes of Uttar Pradesh Governor Romesh Bhandari are in
balance, along with those of Home Minister Indrajir Gupta, Uttar
Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) president Jitendra Prasada and to
some measure and the United Front government itself, with the
admission of a motion on the UP law and order situation in the Lok
Sabha yesterday.
Speaker P A Sangma admitted the motion moved by the Bharatiya
Janata Party's (BJP) Jaswant Singh, which also seeks the recall of
Bhandari for his disagreement with Gupta's assessment of the
situation in UP. The motion has been admitted under Rule 184.
Sangma, who has taken a stiff stand on the disparate statements
being given by Gupta and Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda on the law
and order situation in UP, has posed a still test for the Congress.
The single largest supporting party of the UF Government is under
pressure from its UP unit to move against Bhandari. While the party
will not like to vote against the government, a move which may
discredit Gowda, it will have to annoy Prasada by letting off
Bhandari.
It is felt that the situation in UP will become untenable for
Prasada if his party's central leadership is seen to be bailing out
the governor.
It could even lead to his resignation from the UPCC post. On the
other hand, in case the UF Government comes to the rescue of
Bhandari, Gupta will have little choice but to resign from his
post.
The home minister is said to have tendered his resignation the day
Gowda sided with Bhandari on the law and order issue recently, but
was persuaded by his party colleagues to stay on. If the UF defends
Bhandari openly against Gupta, the home minister may not like to
stay on in the government.
However, communist Party of India (CPI) general secretary A B
Bardhan says the UF had no option but to vote for the government
and against the BJP's motion.
"Of course, we will not be going with the BJP," he said. Asked
whether this could lead to Gupta quitting his post, Bardhan said
such a scenario was not possible. "The issue involved is bigger
than persons and personalities. Parliament must decide the
limitations of a governor. Can an appointee consider himself to be
an elected representative?" Bardhan asked.
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