RLD may name 2 legislators to end impasse

Lucknow, Oct 10: The Uttar Pradesh government may submit names of two Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) legislators to the Raj Bhawan in a bid to end the stalemate over cabinet expansion-cum-reshuffle of the three year old Mulayam Singh Yadav government.

Sources in the state government claimed today that since Governor T V Rajeswar was reportedly not ready to induct non-legislators in the government, the RLD could suggest names of two legislators to the Chief Minister for induction in the council of ministers.

The trouble for RLD started last month when Irrigation minister Meerajuddin resigned from the post aftr completing six months in office. Since he was not a member of either house of the state legislature, he had to step down after six months as per laws. After RLD's efforts to re-induct Meerajuddin failed, party supremo Ajit Singh suggested the names of two non-legislators -- Tarachand Shastri and Khalid Chaudhury -- to be inducted as ministers. In the meantime, another RLD minister Ganga Prasad Pushkar, minister of state (Independent charge) for Rural Engineering, also sumbitted his resignation last week.

While Shastri was to replace Meerajuddin, Chaudhury was the replacement for Pushkar.

Though Chief Minister Mulayam Singh was unwilling to induct non-legislators as ministers, he agreed to the demands of the RLD, Samajwadi Party government's principal alliance partner in the ruling dispensation.

But Governor Rajeswar apparently refused to induct non-legislators to avoid a repeat of Meerajuddin case.

After much bitterness between the government and Raj Bhawan over the issue, the RLD has now provided names of two legislators.

Sources claimed the names of Surendra Singh Nagar (MLC) and Ranbir Rana (MLA) are making rounds.

UNI