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NT Bureau
Chennai, Feb 22:

        The announcement of the election schedule for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly is the 'first victory' to opposition unity, AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalithaa has said.

        In a statement here, the former Tamilnadu Chief Minister said, 'bowing to the combined pressure of the Communist parties, the AIADMK, the Telugu Desam and other like-minded parties, the Centre finally back- tracked on its decision to dismiss the Mulayam Singh's government and gave up its move to impose President's rule in Uttar Pradesh'.

        'But for the determined offensive launched by the opposition political parties and their combined onslaught against the attempt to subvert the Constitution and murder democracy, the Centre would have gone ahead with its move to bury democracy', she said.

        Jayalalithaa also said the announcement of elections by the Election Commission of India only showed that the opposition's unity was essential to 'preserve and safeguard' democracy in the country.