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NT Bureau
Chennai, Feb 18:

        AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalithaa has condemned the 'vindictive move' of the Centre in trying to impose President's rule in Uttar Pradesh after the Supreme Court's verdict disqualifying the 13 BSP MLAs who had shifted loyalties to the ruling Samajwadi Party.

        In a statement released to the press, she said the UP Governor T V Rajeshwar has to be recalled for his 'blatantly partisan attitude' in acting to the dictates of the Congress led UPA government at the Centre. In his report to the Centre, the Governor has expressed his apprehension of horse-trading if a trial of strength was allowed at the Legislative Assembly on 26 February. He felt the that pressure could be exerted on the MLAs to cross the floor during the trial of strength.

        However, Jayalalithaa said whether the Mulayam's government had a majority or not should be decided only on the floor of the Assembly and not in the Raj Bhavan. As the UP Chief Minister Mulayam Singh has declared that he would prove the government's majority on the floor of the House on 26 February, the UPA government at the Centre should wait till that date and allow the Chief Minister to prove his majority, Jayalalithaa said.

        TDP too protests

        Condemning the reported move to impose President's rule in Uttar Pradesh, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) is preparing to enlist the support of other like-minded parties and launch a protest at the national level against the UPA government.

        'We are in touch with the Samajwadi Party and are willing to join the agitation against invocation of Article 356 in Uttar Pradesh,' a TDP source said today. The regional party, which has close ties with the

        Samajwadi Party and has been at the forefront of efforts to forge a Third Front, is in favour of recalling Uttar Pradesh Governor T V Rajeshwar for becoming a 'willing tool' in the Congress' game of manipulations.