Thursday, January 27 2005 10:02 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Mounting pressure on the Mulayam Singh Yadav Government in Uttar Pradesh, former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee last night (Jan 26, 2005) said that the option of imposition of President's rule in the state needed to be seriously considered in view of the "failure" of the state administration to maintain law and order.

The senior BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) leader threw the ball in Congress court on the issue by telling Aaj Tak that his party BJP had already made such a demand. "It is not in our hand to implement the demand and ... it is for the Congress to take a decision."

Asked whether his party would reiterate the demand in view of Tuesday (Jan 25, 2005) killing of controversial BSP (Bahujan Samajwadi Party) MLA Raju Pal in Allahabad, he said, "The situation that is obtained today and which is going to unfold, President's rule is an option, which should be seriously considered."

He said without elaboration, "Everyone agrees that President's rule before elections helps conduct of impartial polls".

Soon after the killing, BSP had demanded dismissal of the Yadav Government and imposition of President's rule in the state.

Vajpayee's critical remarks on the state of affairs in UP have come in the backdrop of his recent utterances praising the Samajwadi party chief and Yadav's warm response.