More heads may roll in UP; minister ‘toll’ 15

Mayawati has set a dubious record of sacking 15 ministers in order to refurbish her image.

While Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati has set a dubious record of sacking 15 ministers in order to refurbish her image,more heads may roll ahead of the Assembly polls with as many as 13 ministers landing in the Lokayukta net.

In the past four days alone,the chief minister has sacked six of her ministers,many of whom were facing graft charges,leaving 35 members in the Mayawati ministry.

While Lokayukta Justice N K Mehrotra has already recommended removal of small scale industry minister Chandra Dev Ram Yadav finding him guilty of indulging in corrupt practices,13 ministers,including her close aide Naseemuddin Siddiqui,are facing inquiry from the anti-graft ombudsman.

Besides,many of the 28 MLAs facing Lokayukta inquiry are from the ruling BSP.

Yesterday,Mayawati sacked two ministers including minister of state for alternative energy Akbar Hussain and minister of state for science and technology Yashpal Singh on charges of corruption and anti-party activities.

Earlier of Sunday,she had removed four ministers including higher education minister Rakeshdhar Tripathi,agriculture education and research minister,Rajpal Tyagi,minister of state for backward welfare(independent charge) Awdhesh Verma and minister of state for home guard Hari Om.

Though,the government did not give any reason for sacking them,sources said that the step has been taken against these ministers as they were mired in controversy involving corruption charges.

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Of the three,Rakeskdhar Tripathi is facing Lokayukta probe in alleged cases of corruption.

Earlier,five ministers ministers including minister of state for religious endowment Rajesh Tripathi,minister for animal husbandry Avadhpal Singh ,secondary education minister Rangnath Misra,labour minister Badshah Singh and Ambedkar village development minister Ratan Lal Ahirwar were removed from their posts.

The NRHM scam and murder of two Chief Medical Officers and a deputy CMO in jail earlier this year had led to removal of two senior ministers — Babu Singh Kushwaha,a close confidant of the chief minister,and Anant Kumar Misra alias Antu.

Another minister Anand Sen Yadav was arrested after his name cropped up in a rape and murder case while his colleague Jamuna Prasad Nishad,who later died,was also shown the door following a criminal case against him.

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It will be a seven-phased poll in Uttar Pradesh between February 4 and 28.