Vikal''s Election As Leader Divides United Front In UP

LUCKNOW, February 21 (PTI)-The chances of the non-Congress Government surviving in Uttar Pradesh now appear to be remote. Mr. Charan Singh's refusal today to get re-elected as leader of the SVD and majority of constituents opposing the election of Mr. Ram Chandra Vikal, an Independent, as the new leader are the two factors which have ended the hopes of keeping the SVD Government in the saddle. The SVD held two meetings today, one in the morning and the other in the evening. Mr. Ram Prakash (Jan Sangh), Deputy Chief Minister, presided over both the meetings. At the morning meeting, Mr. Charan Singh was elected leader again, but he declined the honour. At the evening meeting in the midst of opposition Mr. Ram Prakash declared Mr. Vikal being elected as the new leader. Immediately the CPI, Swatantra, BKD, Republican and Independent groups repudiated Mr. Ram Prakash's statement and said they were opposed to Mr. Vikal being the new leader of the SVD Legislature Party.