UP giving power connections to one community, says Goyal
New Delhi: Union power minister Piyush Goyal accused the Akhilesh Yadav government in UP of providing power connections to members of “one community while denying others.” Mr Goyal said the issue was raised by BJP’s Moradabad MP Sarvesh Kumar Singh. When the state government denied any discrimination, the MP approached PM Narendra Modi, who asked for an investigation.
“A committee in its report said that in Moradabad’s several areas there was discrimination in giving power connections... This is a serious problem,” Mr Goyal said.
If one is keen to know which way the Uttar Pradesh elections are heading, Allahabad presents a perfect example. As the city goes to polls Thursday, there is complete confusion and uncertainty about the outcome of the elections.
Parties are grappling with resentment among cadre and rebel candidates, while families are torn apart by politics. Veterans are being challenged by newcomers and turncoats pleading for support.
“No one know what’s going on and what will happen. I have never seen an election like this. The candidates and the voters, both, are confused,” says S.K. Srivastava, a retired government employee.
Residents are upset with SP as well as BJP. “The Samajwadi Party won on nine out of 12 Assembly seats from here, but they did not make a single minister. The BJP too did not make a minister from. We remain completely isolated and neglected by politicians,” says Anand Darbari, a senior citizen.
Ticket distribution for seats in Allahabad has already raised controversy. Old timers in SP and BJP are irked at being sidelined and have played a peripheral role in the campaign. These parties too have relied on entrants rather than trusted loyalists.
In Allahabad West seat, for instance, the Samajwadi Party has fielded former president of Allahabad University, Richa Singh.
Ms Richa, 28, is a feisty young woman who challenged the vice-chancellor of Allahabad University when he questioned her admission into the university. She won the battle and joined SP a few months ago.
The BSP candidate is MLA Pooja Pal, who joined politics after her husband Raju Pal was shot dead in 2005, allegedly by Ashraf, brother of Ateeq Ahmad.
Ms Pooja, 37, had been married for just nine days when she was widowed. A two-term MLA, she continues to enjoy the goodwill and sympathy of the people.
Turning this battle into a three-cornered contest is BJP national secretary Siddhartha Nath Singh. The Delhi-based politician faced the wrath of party workers when he arrived in Allahabad and he continues to battle the “outsider” tag.
Mr Singh, the grandson of former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, says he had his roots in the city.
In Allahabad South, the BJP has fielded former BSP minister Nand Gopal Nandi. The 42 year-old politician has gone from BSP to Congress and then to BJP. Allahabad North seat is less complicated. Congress MLA Anugrah Narain Singh is the candidate of the SP-Congress alliance, while the BJP fielded former BSP leader Harshvardhan Bajpai.