BJP trying to destabilise UP govt, midterm poll possible: Beni

Beni-Prasad-VermaLucknow: Former Union minister and senior Congress leader Beni Prasad Verma on Monday said that there was a possibility of mid-term polls taking place in Uttar Pradesh as the BJP after its massive win in the Lok Sabha elections was "trying to destabilise" the Akhilesh Yadav government.

"Mid-term polls are possible in Uttar Pradesh... government getting such a mandate in the past have done the same and it could be possible this time round too," he said.

"Besides there are inputs that there is an attempt to wean away 40 to 50 SP MLAs to destabilise the government and go in for mid-term elections, which if held at this juncture, would help the BJP come to power in UP," he alleged.

The Congress leader, however, said his party would not like to have such a scenario as it still needs time to restrengthen its base in the state and therefore, would like to see the Samajwadi Party government to complete its term.

"My party Congress needs time to regain lost ground so I I want the present SP government to complete its term and in this context I had earlier stated that I am ready to help Mulayam Singh Yadav to counter BJP," Verma said, adding that this statement of his was however misinterpreted as his desire to return to the Samajwadi Party.

"There is no chance of my returning to SP, it is like hell while Congress is heaven for me," he said.

Criticising the appointment of Amit Shah as BJP's president, Verma said it would be the first time that the head of a national political party would be "a person facing murder charges".

"It is being wrongly said that Amit Shah helped the BJP post a resounding victory in the state... Everyone is aware how the people here were disenchanted with the ruling SP government."

Corruption, casteism and dismal law and order... these were the reasons of BJP's win," Verma said.--- PTI