Govt's majority cannot be decided by Centre: CPI-M

Stepping up its opposition to the imposition of President's Rule in Uttar Pradesh, the Communist Party of India-Marxist on Sunday said the majority of a government cannot be decided at Raj Bhavan or by the Centre.

Addressing a press conference after a two-day Politbureau meeting, party general secretary Prakash Karat said this was also the understanding of the other Left parties on Article 356, which provides for imposition of Central rule.

"The CPI-M is opposed to the invocation of Article 356 in Uttar Pradesh. Consequent to the Supreme Court judgment, the question whether the state government commands a majority in the Legislature must be tested on the floor of the House.

This is the norm to be observed as laid down by the Supreme Court judgment in the Bommai case. Article 356 of the Constitution is a draconian clause which can be misused," Karat said.

He parried questions on what the CPI-M would do if the Centre unilaterally went ahead with a decision to dismiss the Mulayam Singh government.

"We hope they will not take one-sided decisions. I hope wiser counsel will prevail. We cannot expect that the government which we support will take such a stand on Article 356," Karat said.