Hectic campaign for RS in UP

Apprehensions of crossvoting in the upcoming biennial Rajya Sabha elections on June 11 have set alarm bells ringing in all major political parties in Uttar Pradesh.

Fearing the same, the ruling Samajwadi Party on Monday night broke its unwritten rule as party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and senior minister Shivpal Yadav went to the residence of independent minister Raghuraj Pratap

RAJA BHAIYYA, a five- term MLA, wields considerable influence over at least a dozen SP MLAs and is reportedly inching closer to the BJP after being “shabbily treated by the SP”

Singh a. k. a. Raja Bhaiyya for deliberations.

In the Yadav clan, it is said that only one member attends functions outside the family but in a rare departure, three senior family members came together to enlist the support of Raja Bhaiyya and his legislators.

Though Raja’s aides hastened to add that the dinner was a part of his twin sons’ birthday celebrations, sources say that the meeting was actually convened to discuss the Rajya Sabha polls amidst reports that the minister and his supporters were inching closer to the BJP after being “shabbily treated by the SP”. About two dozen SP MLAs were also present at the meeting.

Raja Bhaiyya, a fiveterm MLA, wields considerable influence over at least a dozen SP MLAs and he is said to be sulking since the past two years when he was accused in the murder of a DSP in Pratapgarh and asked to resign.

Though he was later reinstated after being given a clean chit by the CBI, he was not given back his favourite portfolio – jail. Last October, his food and civil supplies portfolio was also taken away and he had to remain content with an insignificant portfolio stamp and registration.