Mayawati on warpath with Governor Rajeswar

Lucknow, Feb 4:The nine-month-long honeymoon between the Mayawati government and the Raj Bhawan seems to be over in the state with differences between the two coming to the fore.

The spat between them is reminiscent of the 'sour' relations shared by Governor T V Rajeswar and the previous Mulayam Singh government. Almost the entire three-and-a-half year regime of the Mulayam Singh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party government in UP was entangled in controveries with the the Raj Bhawan. The same is the case with the Mayawati government now. While law and order was the foremost issue the Governor had taken up during the past regime, the backwardness of Bundelkhand is the bone of contention with Ms Mayawati.

The 'sourness' bewteen the two had started with Mr Rajeswar's sudden visit to Bundelkhand where he made some 'hard hitting' comments on the state government. This prompted the Chief Minister to reply with a rally in Jhansi on January 29 in which she blamed the Centre for its alleged apathy in sanctioning development package to the region.

She, in fact, raised questions on the Governor's visit and countered his allegations in her own fiery style.

On Friday, Mr Rajeswar questioned the suspension of two IAS officers over publication of a book on the history of Sultanpur in which apparently the Gandhi family was eulogised for its contribution towards the development of the place which includes Amethi, the parliamentary constituency once represented by late Rajiv Gandhi and now by his son Rahul Gandhi.

The Governor had sent a letter to the CM in this regard which was vehemently countered by her thus opening a new chapter of hostility between the two.

With the Lok Sabha polls nearing and the political positioning of various political parties getting tougher by the day, the latest spat between the two is likley to generate political heat in the state.

UNI