LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav on Friday criticised the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party for "turning the Raj Bhavan into a political party office" during the local body polls and dared them to get the Assembly dissolved.

Mr. Yadav said while the Samajwadi Party would go directly to the people, these parties wanted to contest elections when the State was under President's Rule.

Intervening during the Question Hour in the Vidhan Sabha, he said both parties had forged "an understanding" on the issue of toppling the State Government. Rejecting the charge that the civic elections were rigged, he said for the first time the polls were held in an impartial and peaceful manner.

The Chief Minister's intervention was in relation to a question on farmland given to Anil Ambani's Reliance Group for setting up the gas-based power plant in Ghaziabad district.Laxmikant Bajpai (BJP) had asked whether the expert committee report was submitted to the Government and on what basis land was transferred to the company.

Power position

Mr. Yadav said the State's power position was the best in north India, and took credit for bringing in the investment saying three to four years ago no investor was interested in setting up a power station in Ghaziabad.

Allegations that farmland was given to the group cheap were false, he saidand accused the Congress and BJP of blocking the power project.

He said gas supply for the project would be after the Assembly polls. He blamed the Centre for the delay in finalising the rate of gas and ignoring the interests of the State.

The Chief Minister's comments drew instant reactions from the Congress and BJP, with the Leader of the Opposition, Lalji Tandon, stating that the BJP was responsible for keeping the Congress out of power in the State.

Pramod Tiwari (Congress) said his party has never had any truck with the BJP.

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