The BJP on Sunday alleged energy minister Ramveer Upadhyaya’s attack on Uttar Pradesh’s Lokayukta was a pre-planned BSP’s conspiracy.
“It is an open allegation of the BJP that it happened as part of a pre-planned conspiracy of the BSP,” state party head Surya Pratap Shahi said.
Accusing the chief minister of shielding tainted ministers, Mr Shahi said it was because of this Ms Mayawati remained mum over the issue.
“Everyone from the Election Commission to the Lokayukta himself are surprised with the remark. Mayawati should clarify what her intention is,” he said.
Mr Upadhyaya was embroiled in a controversy after he launched an attack on Lokayukta Justice N.K. Mehrotra in an election rally in Hathras district on Friday and even threatened to get him removed. The remark came under the scanner of the Election Commission.
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Maya accused of misusing state machinery
Age Correspondent
Lucknow, Jan. 1
A remark by a BSP MP that tickets in the party were being changed after seeking reports about party candidates from the local intelligence units has kicked up a major controversy.
Opposition parties allege that this amounts to misuse of government machinery for election purposes and have asked the Election Commission to initiate action in the matter.
According to reports reaching here, Jugal Kishore, BSP MP and party coordinator, reportedly said at a party rally in Azamgarh on December 27: “The party (BSP) made a few changes in the names of candidates declared earlier after Behenji (Mayawati) gathered details from government machinery... like the local intelligence unit.”
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9 new districts start working in Chhattisgarh
Rabindra Nath Choudhury
Raipur, Jan. 1
Nine new districts started functioning in Chhattisgarh on New Year’s Day on Sunday. With this, the total number of districts in the state has increased to 27.
The new districts are Sukma, Kondagaon, Gariabandh, Balod Bazar, Balod, Bemetra, Mungeli, Surajpur and Balarampur.
While Sukma, Kondagaon and Mungeli have been carved out of Dantewada, Bastar and Bilaspur districts respectively, the existing districts of Raipur, Sarguja and Durg have each been bifurcated to create the new districts of Gariabandh, Balod Bazar, Surajpur, Balarampur, Bemetra and Balod.