Yashwant Sinha backs Advani's demand for fresh LS elections

HAZARIBAG: Senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha on Monday backed party leader L K Advani demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and seeking a fresh mandate.

"I fully agree with Advaniji's demand for the prime minister's resignation and seek a fresh mandate in the wake of the corruption issue raised by Anna Hazare," Sinha told a media conference here.

Advani earlier claimed the 2009 poll verdict had lost relevance and the prime minister should now seek a fresh mandate.

Stating that the Hazare movement had swept the nation like a storm, he alleged the situation arose due to "mishandling by the UPA government and its advisers."

"The Centre had convened an all-party-meeting to evolve a solution which was very late. The situation went out of their hand," Sinha added.

On whether the government could pass the Jan Lokpal bill by August 30 as demanded by Hazare, Sinha said the UPA government should convene a special session for resolving the crisis during the next winter session of Parliament while no point other than the bill should be discussed during the current session.