Lucknow Nama

When the Samajwadi Party announced its 72-hour agitation programme against Mayawatis misrule, it sounded like a desperate attempt to gain some political mileage.

SPs new avatar

When the Samajwadi Party announced its 72-hour agitation programme against Mayawatis misrule, it sounded like a desperate attempt to gain some political mileage. But the SP has actually succeeded in making some points. For the first time,SP workers did not damage buses,or public property. They also did they force closure of shops. Looks like the SP is trying to present a new,friendly image as an opposition party. On the other hand,the government seemed to have over-reacted. The SP office and Mulayam Singhs residence in Lucknow were barricaded and party workers were arrested in a statewide crackdown. Those who managed to avoid getting arrested held demonstrations outside government offices and were beaten up by the police. At many places,the police action was brutal. In Lucknow,newspapers carried photos of DIG D K Thakur pinning down an SP worker under his boots. Thakurs brave act may have pleased his bosses,but this photo may haunt him for long.

Smooth move

Malkiat Singhs appointment as chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission surprised everyone. Singh,who headed the intelligence wing of the police,was due to retire on March 31,but no one had a clue that Chief Minister Mayawati had planned something for him. Sources said the CM summoned Cabinet Secretary Shashank Shekhar Singh and directed him to personally obtain Governor B L Joshis approval for Singhs appointment as UPPSC chairman. Until Raj Bhawan okayed it,the proposal was kept secret. Apparently,the fear was that somebody could throw a spanner in the works by challenging the move in court. Soon after the Governor signed the file,Singh took VRS so that he could take up his new assignment promptly. Now everyone is waiting to see who becomes the head of the intelligence wing. It is an important post,given only to an officer who has full confidence of the Chief Minister.

Ministers matter

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Last week saw the exit of 1988-batch IAS officer Manoj Kumar Singh from the office of Secretary of Rural Development. For months,Rural Development Minister Daddu Prasad had been trying to get rid of Singh,but his efforts did not seem to be getting anywhere. This was Singhs second stint in the Rural Development Department,the first one was as the commissioner. In between,he served as commissioner of Moradabad and CEO of Greater Noida. When he returned in August,no principal secretary was posted above him. This showed his influence. Sources said things started changing after CMs inspection tour of the state. Now,Mayawati has started giving greater importance to her ministers,explained an official. At last,Daddu Prasad had his way.

B(ickering)JP

The unceremonious dismissal of BJP Mahanagar president Neeraj Gupta,who had succeeded Pradeep Bhargava,a crony of Lucknow MP Lalji Tandon,has again exposed the factional feud within the party. Gupta has been penalised for exercising his right of constituting the executive committee. Even state president Surya Pratap Shahi had nominated office-bearers instead of opting for elections. Now,Pradeep Bhargava has been nominated in Guptas place although the partys constitution does not allow anyone to remain president of an unit for two terms. Obviously,Lalji Tandon is happy. Shahis detractors have decided to take up the matter with the high command and complain that the party is being run on the whims and fancies of individuals.

Game time

THE Sports Directorate seems to have chosen a wrong time for organising tournaments this month. Most of the young players are busy with exams,while officials are busy with the formalities of the annual closing. Anandeshwar Pandey,secretary general of Uttar Pradesh Olympic Association,who is also the secretary of UP Handball Association,said: The handball tournament is being held at Bijnore from March 13 to 15. We are coordinating with the teams for the proper conduct of the tournament,but it would have been better had these tournaments been organised after some planning. A Regional Sports Officer let out the secret: the tournaments are being held in a hurry to spend the allotted money in the budget before the end of the financial year.

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Lucknow Nama

When the Samajwadi Party announced its 72-hour agitation programme against Mayawatis misrule, it sounded like a desperate attempt to gain some political mileage.

When the Samajwadi Party announced its 72-hour agitation programme against Mayawatis misrule, it sounded like a desperate attempt to gain some political mileage.