Lucknownama; Prime time

MUM’s the word

The SP government’s unusual decision to extend the term of Lokayukta N K Mehrotra retrospectively from six to eight years through an ordinance,instead of appointing a new Lokayukta,has surprisingly brought no reaction from BSP,the main opposition. Had the government gone for the appointment of a new Lokayukta,legally the Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Swami Prasad Maurya would have had a say in the selection. But Maurya has refrained from making any comment on the extension of Mehrotra’s term. Maybe,it has something to do with the fact that Maurya,along with more than 10 former BSP ministers,including Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Naseemuddin Siddiqui,is being probed by Mehrotra for alleged corruption and misuse of office.

Shying away

During the election campaign,both Uma Bharti and Kalraj Mishra were contenders for chief minister. But now,after the BJP’s debacle,neither reportedly wants to become the leader of the party in the Assembly. Sources said Bharti has conveyed that she wants to concentrate on her constituency,Charkhari,and the next Lok Sabha elections. Veteran Mishra,on the other hand,has suggested that the party should select a youth leader to take on the ruling Samajwadi Party in the Assembly.

AN Enlightened term

Jails Minister Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiyya seems to have made a good use of the time he spent behind bars on various charges. During the Lohia birth anniversary function,the minister said that he had read about Lohia in jail. “It is a good place to study as you don’t have any work. I read about Lohiaji’s life,movement,teachings. Everything about him in jail,” said Raja Bhaiyya. The books,he said,were provided by Netaji (Mulayam Singh Yadav).

Poll vault

Mayawati’s order not to contest the local body elections,which may be held soon,hasn’t gone down well with her partymen. Senior BSP leaders,including Swami Prasad Maurya,Naseemuddin Siddiqui and Gaya Charan Dinkar,who are holding review meetings to ascertain the reasons for the BSP’s poor performance in Assembly elections,are facing the ire of party workers. Grassroots workers allege that the party leadership thinks only about those who want to become MLAs and MPs,and not the cadres.

power barricades

After four years,the road connecting Mall Avenue with Mahatma Gandhi Marg has been opened to public. It was closed when work was started on redesigning of 13,Mall Avenue,the house allotted to Mayawati as a former chief minister. The work was completed over a year ago,but the road remained closed. In the meantime, construction started at 9,Mall Avenue which Mayawati had purchased in 2010. The barricades used to open only for Mayawati and residents of a private bungalow,which is located between the BSP office at 12,Mall Avenue and 9,Mall Avenue. The barricades are still there,but they are now remain open. And the policemen,who used to remain there 24×7,are seen nowhere.