Guv-SP govt in tug of war over UP Council nominations

Lucknow, August 1

Refusing to relent, the Uttar Pradesh government has sent the same list of five names to the Raj Bhavan for nomination to the Legislative Council under the nominated members category which the Governor had returned seeking more information.

Governor Ram Naik had sought additional inputs on five names before giving his nod.

“The government has sent the list of five names with additional inputs, as demanded by the governor. These are being examined,” a senior Raj Bhavan official said.

A day after giving approval to four out of the nine names sent by state government for nomination as MLCs, Naik had sought more information from the Chief Minister regarding these five and stated that he would take a decision after he receives a reply.

After keeping on hold for over a month the list of nine names sent by the Samajwadi Party government for nomination as MLCs, the Governor had approved four names—SRS Yadav, Lilawati Kushwaha, Ram Vriksh Singh Yadav and Jitendra Yadav, a relative of RJD chief Lalu Prasad.

He, however, sought additional information about Kamlesh Pathak, Sanjay Seth, Ranvijay Singh, Abdul Sarfaraz Khan and Rajpal Kashyap.

The official pointed out that Raj Bhavan will make detailed inquiries about Seth, a local developer and builder, from the income tax department which had carried out raids at his offices sometime ago.

The Council seats on which these nominations have to be made are meant for apolitical people making significant contribution in the areas of art, literature or social service. — PTI