UP Lokayukta recommends disqualification of two MLAs

Lucknow, Dec 3: Uttar Pradesh Lokayuta Justice NK Mehrotra has sent a "special recommendation" to Governor Ram Naik for disqualification of two MLAs belonging to BJP and BSP.

The major allegation against Uma Shanker Singh of BSP and Bajrang Bahadur Singh of BJP is that they are still taking government contracts, Mehrotra said.

"I have sent a special recommendation to the Governor requesting him that the Election Commission is not giving any advice, therefore, he should take action and decide," he told PTI.

"If not satisfied with my report, they should table it in the Assembly. The decision has to be taken by the Governor," he added.

The Lokayuta said that he initially sent the report in February to the Chief Minister, which was later forwarded to the Governor. Earlier, Mehrotra had issued summons to four legislators of the ruling Samajwadi Party (SP), including a state minister, with regard to allottment of work to a defunct non-government organisation.

According to reports, the Lokayukta had asked the Minister of State for Agriculture Manoj Kumar Pandey to present himself before it June 10, 2014, and explain why work was allotted to an NGO from his legislator`s fund when the NGO ceased to exist in 2011.

Notices have also been issued to SP legislators Ram Lal Akela, Devendra Pratap Singh and Surendra Vikram Singh.

This was the first incident when members of the ruling dispensation have come under the radar of the Lokayukta. In his previous tenure, the ombundsman had given adverse reports on many ministers of the Mayawati government, after which the Bahujan Samaj Party(BSP) supremo was forced to sack several ministers.

PTI