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Mulayam swears to pull down UP government

Sharat Pradhan in Lucknow

Samajwadi Party president and former defence minister Mulayam Singh Yadav on Thursday courted arrest with thousands of supporters in Lucknow in an impressive culmination of his week-old jail bharo campaign.

The campaign has sought to highlight the "ill-conceived policies and mal-governance of the Bharatiya Janata Party government in Uttar Pradesh."

The city was virtually painted with the party's red and green as Samajwadi Party banners and buntings were put up on all major road junctions and thoroughfares.

Thousands of party activists donning red and green scarves and caps carrying flags and banners marched down the city roads throwing normal life out of gear for several hours.

A large number of women also participated in this show of strength, that marked the commencement of SP's pre-election preparations.

Even though the assembly elections are scheduled for March, 2002, Mulayam and some other opposition leaders have predicted snap polls over the next six months.

Starting from Mulayam's residence, the rally snaked its way through the city's main roads to assemble outside the district collectorate, where the SP chief addressed the gathering.

Mulayam stood by at the dias for hours until the 35 buses requisitioned by the district administration were stuffed with SP volunteers and despatched to the Lucknow district jail.

Many others looked disappointed as Mulayam turned down their request for being included in the list of volunteers offering arrest.

The SP chief was the last to court arrest together with his younger brother and party secretary general, Shiv Pal Yadav.

"This jail bharo will continue till the fall of the BJP-led coalition government in Uttar Pradesh," Mulayam declared amidst cheers.

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