Oppn seeks
UNDER FIRE BJP says SP govt has lost majority in House; BSP, Cong say governance will take a hit in the state
LUCKNOW: Taking advantage of the ongoing internal turmoil in the Samajwadi Party (SP), Opposition parties on Sunday launched a scathing attack against the ruling party in Uttar Pradesh.
While the BJP demanded a floor test, saying the government had lost its majority, the BSP and Congress said the infighting had taken a toll on governance.
“This government is now reduced to a minority and hence should not be allowed to take any policy decisions until it is able to prove its majority on the floor of the assembly,” UP BJP chief Keshav Prasad Maurya said.
BSP general secretary Satish Mishra said people would teach the SP a lesson in the assembly elections early next year. “There is no governance. The law and order situation has taken a nosedive and people are fed up of this family feud,” said Mishra, addressing a public rally in eastern UP.
Alleging that the state’s development had taken a hit in the ‘chacha-bhatija’ feud, Maurya said, “Whether the majority lawmakers are with the chief minister or Shivpal can only be proved on the floor of the assembly. That’s why a floor test is important now.”
Targeting the chief minister, he said, “By removing some of his ministers, some of whom were accused of being involved in scams, the CM has tried to indicate that he stands for clean governance. But then why did he tolerate these ministers for so long? In fact, there are still several ministers in his government who face serious charges. Why has Akhileshji been protecting them? The reality is that all this infighting is to share the loot money.”
Meanwhile, the Congress said KESHAV PRASAD MAURYA, Uttar Pradesh BJP chief
This government is now reduced to a minority and hence, should not be allowed to take any policy decisions until it is able to prove its majority on the floor of the assembly.
“it is the prerogative of the state’s chief minister to either sack or appoint ministers”.
“This is purely an internal matter. Congress has the tradition of not interfering in the internal affairs of any party. In the interest of UP, they should settle the fight within their own party,” Congress spokesperson Tom Vadakkan said.
“This is a matter which has to be decided internally. We hope that they set their house in order and conduct fair elections in the state,” he added.
On being asked about Ramgopal Yadav, who was expelled from the SP, Vadakkan said, “We are not taking sides. Let them settle the matter internally.”
Ramgopal was said to be close to Akhilesh and his expulsion from the party was announced by Shivpal Yadav, who heads the SP’s state unit. He was sacked from the cabinet on Sunday morning.
“It wouldn’t be appropriate for any party to interfere. We’ll speak if it affects the people of Uttar Pradesh,” Vadakkan said.
Satyadeo Tripathi, chairman of the communication department of UP Congress, said, “The government is in a limbo. The power tussle of the past 10 days has affected administrative functioning and people’s work is not getting done.”
(With agency inputs) Minister for science and technology, Rai, a legislator from Ballia, was a firebrand student leader. He was elected as MLA from Ballia in 2002 and appointed urban development minister, a portfolio he held till 2007 Mulayam’s brother Shivpal is SP president of UP, a post he took over from Akhilesh, triggering the power tussle. Considered No 2, next only to Akhilesh, he held several portfolios. He was removed by Akhilesh last month and then reinstated June 2: Akhilesh sacks cabinet minister and senior Yadav leader Balram Yadav for his role in merger with Quami Ekta Dal
June 25: SP cancels merger. Shivpal sulks after decision
Aug 14: Shivpal threatens to resign after he complains of involvement of SP leaders in land grabbing incidents
Aug 15: Mulayam says if Shivpal resigns, SP would split
Aug 17: Shivpal skips cabinet meet The 52-year old is a party veteran, who was elected MLA many times. In his portfolio as tourism minister, he represents Zamania constituency in Ghazipur. He was also a minister in Mulayam’s cabinet. Has several criminal cases against him Aug 19: SP puts up a show of unity as Shivpal calls Akhilesh, denies differences
Sept 12: Akhilesh sacks two tainted ministers
Sept 13: Akhilesh sacks UP chief secy, considered close to Shivpal
Sept 13: Mulayam removes Akhilesh as state president, names Shivpal to post. Akhilesh retaliates by stripping his uncle of all key ministries
Sept 14: Shivpal is summoned to Delhi by Mulayam, who tries to chalk out a solution to the present crisis The only Muslim woman minister of Akhilesh Yadav’s government, Fatima was elected MLA from Zahoorabad in Ghazipur. She has been in the news recently because of her son’s involvement in a hitand-run case. Sept 15: Shivpal resigns from post of state president and cabinet in UP government
Sept 16: Mulayam rejects Shivpal’s resignation
Sept 20: Shivpal expels seven Akhilesh supporters
Oct 22: SP expels Akhilesh supporter Udaiveer Singh for asking Mulayam to make way for Akhilesh
Oct 23: Akhilesh sacks Shivpal, 3 others.