Tuesday, February 1 2005 10:20 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi/Varanasi: Amidst vociferous demands for dismissal of Mulayam Singh Yadav Government in the wake of killing of a BSP (Bahujan Samaj Party) legislator, two former Prime Ministers yesterday (Jan 31, 2005) said that they did not favour President's rule in any State where Government enjoyed a majority in the Assembly.

"The imposition of Central rule cannot be a panacea for improving law and order situation in any State," Chandrashekhar told reporters in Varanasi.

He said that he was not in favour of President's rule in any State where the Government enjoyed majority in the Assembly.

If such a demand were met in case of one State, then it would open up Pandora's box for imposition of Central rule in several other States, the former Premier said.

In New Delhi, V P Singh, when asked whether he favoured President's rule in Uttar Pradesh in the wake of killing of Raju Pal, told reporters "I am not in favour of President's rule."

"Since the time of the National Front Government, we have been against it. We have always maintained that any change of Government should be on the basis of floor test or with Parliamentary approval. Otherwise, parties should fight it out politically," he said.