NEW DELHI, Nov 25: First-time members of Lok Sabha have launched a signature campaign against the possible dissolution of the House.

Seen as a Bharatiya Janata Party-sponsored move, campaign leaders claimed that 98 MPs (including 35 from the BJP) from all parties except the Left had signed the three-line memorandum which is to be presented to the President tomorrow.

In the meantime, the presence of Youth Congress President Satyajit Rao Gaekwad, a Sitaram Kesri protegee, at yesterday's meeting of young MPs, led to speculation that the move had the covert support of the Congress President.

According to political observers, if more Congress MPs join the campaign, it could give Kesri an excuse to buy time. About 19 Congress MPs, including senior ones like Manoranjan Bhakta and M Baga Reddy, have signed the memorandum.

Campaign leader D B Rai, a BJP MP, claimed that 98 Lok Sabha MPs have signed the memorandum to be presented to President K R Narayanan tomorrow. "Our numbers will be even greater," said another BJP MP, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, adding that several MPs were not present today because the Lok Sabha had been adjourned sine die. The group is to meet again tomorrow in Parliament and then go to Rashtrapathi Bhavan to hand the memorandum to the President.

Except for those belonging to Left parties, MPs from the Janata Dal (including Karnataka JD President B L Shankar), Asom Gana Parishad, Samajwadi Janata Party, Kerala Congress and DMK - as well as the BJP's allies - have signed the memorandum, Rai said. The maximum number, however, come from the BJP - 35. About 200 MPs are expected to attend tomorrow's meeting.

There are 284 first-timers in the Lok Sabha and leaders of the group are hoping that their opinion will carry weight with their respective parties - and also President K R Narayanan, in case dissolution is recommended. They are urging that an alternative be found.

Several MPs said that their signing did not mean that they would support the BJP. "The BJP has no role in this. Today's signature campaign was a reconfirmation of more MPs who had not been able to sign yesterday. We only want to avoid dissolution," said T Subbarami Reddy of the Congress. The three-line memorandum reads : "Cutting across party lines we, Members of Parliament, are of the view that the present Lok Sabha should not be dissolved. The President should find some alternative solution (instead of dissolving the House). We think the country can not afford elections at this juncture."

BJP leaders admitted in private that the move was to test the waters and see how many MPs were likely to support the party to avert mid-term elections. Besides BJP MPs, those from their allied parties were actively mobilising MPs from other parties.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.