'Absconder' becomes minister in Bihar:Congress

Patna, Aug 3 (UNI) Bihar Energy Minister Vijendra Prasad Yadav is in the dock for allegedly concealing facts in the mandatory affidavit filed before the Election Commission when he presented his nomination papers as a candidate from Supaul assembly constituency in 2005 polls.

The Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee(BPCC) submitted a memorandum to state chief electoral officer Sudhir Kumar Rakesh today,on the eve of the assembly's monsoon session, demanding termination of his membership in the lower house of the state legislature.

BPCC chief spokesman Prem Chandra Mishra told mediapersons that Mr Yadav had successfully contested the assembly elections on the strength of a declaration where he had 'chosen to refrain' from stating facts.

''Judicial Magistrate of Patna Ranjana Asthana had declared him an absconder on March 2000 for his failure to appear in the court despite issuance of warrant of arrest and also ordered attachment of his property in a case filed by an officer of Bihar Hydro Power Corporation, Mr Lalan Prasad Sinha, on May 13,1992,'' he said.

Mr Yadav had allegedly misbehaved with and abused Mr Sinha during his tenure as a minister of state for energy in the then Lalu Prasad government, Mr Mishra added.

The Congress leader maintained that Mr Yadav could not feign ignorance about the case as he had filed a revision petition before the appelate court.

He ridiculed Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for inducting an 'absconder' in his council of ministers and demanded immediate ouster of the 'erring' minister.

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