Uttar Pradesh Assembly passes resolution to split the state, adjourns sine die

Lucknow, India, Nov 21 (PTI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati today pushed through a resolution to split the northern Indian state into four parts amid stiff opposition in the state legislative assembly which swiftly adjourned sine die after passing the controversial proposal by voice vote. Afer securing the assembly approval at a special session, a belligerent Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo rejected the charge that her move was a political gimmick in an election-bound state and said it was taken out of "compulsion" since the Centre has not taking any initiative for easier governance of the country's most populous state. The special session was meant to be a two-day affair but it was adjourned sine-die by Speaker Rajbhar amid pandemonium within minutes after it gave its green signal after one round of brief adjournment. The abrupt adjournment left opposition BJP, Samajwadi Party and Congress fuming as they had hoped to corner Mayawati on a range of issues through two no-confidence motions which they wanted to move against her government. Mayawati, who had recently announced the proposal to split the state into Purvanchal, Paschim Pradesh, Bundelkhand and Awadh Pradesh states, presented the resolution saying it was being forwarded to the Centre. Under the Indian Constitution the legislature of a state has to pass a resolution for any reconfiguration of a state after which a constitutional amendment initiated by the Central Government would make it a reality. Mayawati said her move to split the state had absolutely nothing to do with the forthcoming elections in the state and that her government had brought up the matter with the Centre for easier governance in 2007. With a population of 200 million, Uttar Pradesh is India's most populous state. Polls to constitute the new assembly in the state are due in May 2012. PTI