History of sorts as Maya Cabinet reduced by half

Majority of ministers sacked on charges of corruption, criminal cases

India’s largest state, Uttar Pradesh, has  now seen the unceremonious exit of almost half of the state Cabinet since the Mayawati government came to power in 2007, marking a first in the country’s history. Most of the ministers were sacked on charges of corruption and criminal acts.

The original 54-minister UP Cabinet has been reduced considerably with the sacking or resignation of as many as 25 ministers in the last four years. Ten ministers were sacked by Chief Minister Mayawati in the last one week alone, while others just resigned.

A majority of the ministers had to be removed following their indictment by the UP Lokayukta in corruption and criminal cases. A section of the ministers was allegedly found involved in the multi-crore National Rural Health Mission scam.
According to sources, at least 16 ministers are being probed by the Lokayukta, and they may be removed if found guilty. This will further reduce the number of ministers in the Cabinet.

The Lokayukta has already recommended removal of Small Scale Industries Minister Chandradeo Ram Yadav, who was found guilty of drawing the salary of a headmaster from a government-aided school in Azamgarh. He had been withdrawing the salary even after he became a minister in 2007. Since Yadav has been denied a renomination, he may either resign or be sacked in the next few days.

Mayawati has also told Ramachal Rajbhar and Daddu Prasad that they won’t get tickets to contest in the Assembly polls. They may be sacked too, sources said.
As Mayawati did not go for Cabinet expansion despite the exit of several ministers, UP may have created another record in this regard.

Naseemuddin Siddique, Mayawati’s most-trusted minister, is in charge of 18 departments though he is being probed for corruption by the Lokayukta.

Sacking an ‘eyewash’

While BSP leaders claim that the ministers were removed to send a positive message to the people and prove the party’s commitment to the fight against corruption, the Opposition has termed the entire exercise as an “eyewash” and totally useless.

Rs 35 lakh seized

At least Rs 35 lakh in unaccounted cash was seized at two separate places in Bulandshahr, police said on Saturday.

While a man was detained in Danoora for carrying Rs 27.5 lakh, another person was arrested for carrying Rs 7.5 lakh.

The Election Commission has stepped up vigil in view on the upcoming Assembly polls in UP. Nobody is allowed to travel carrying more than Rs 1 lakh.