`Crime fighter’ Rajnath fields wanted man’s wife in civic repoll

Kalmesh had a tie-up with Samajwadi Party candidate Ajay Yadav when elections to urban local bodies were held last month. The state election commission has ordered a re-election there this month.

Rajnath could not have done much to stop Kamlesh’s nomination in the first round as the list had already been finalised when he took over as Chief Minister two months ago. But this time, not only did he clear her nomination — despite strong resistance from local party unit — but also overhauled the entire district administration to suit her “requirements”.

Awadhpal was elected to the state Assembly in 1993 on a BSP ticket but defected to the BJP after the fall of Mayawati government in 1995. The Etah police had raided his house and farm on the instructions of then chief minister Kalyan Singh in a kidnapping case in 1997, sources in the UP government revealed.

Awadhpal has been evading arrest, allegedly with help from top state BJP leaders. “It is ironical that a Chief Minister who talks of checking law and order, is patronising criminal elements in his party,” a senior state police officer said.