Akhilesh takes over as new CM of UP

Within hours of taking charge he shunts out Maya loyalists

Thirty-eight-year-old Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday became the youngest chief minister of India’s most populous state, Uttar Pradesh.

Within hours of being sworn in, Akhilesh shunted out Mayawati loyalists from chief minister’s secretariat.

 He transferred 17 IAS and five IPS officers, placing 11 senior officials considered close to his predecessor Mayawati on the waiting list.

Akhilesh, who became the 33rd chief minister of UP, was administered oath of office and secrecy by the Governor B L Joshi at an impressive function in the presence of several political personalities and a large number of Samajwadi Party (SP) workers and leaders from across the state.

Along with Akhilesh, 19 ministers of Cabinet and 28 ministers of state were also sworn in. Senior SP leaders including Azam Khan, Shivpal Singh Yadav and Waquar Ahmed Shah found a place in the Cabinet while controversial Independent MLA Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiya was also made a Cabinet minister.

Representatives from almost all major political parties attended the oath-taking ceremony.

Notable among those present were Union Minister Pawan Bansal, veteran Congress leader Motilal Vora, CPM leader Prakash Karat, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, film actress Jaya Bachchan, CPI leader A B Bardhan, INLD leader Om Prakash Chautala and industrialist Anil Ambani.

BSP represented

Though former UP chief minister Mayawati skipped the ceremony, her party leaders Naseemuddin Siddique and Sami Prasad Maurya were present. Speaking to the media after being sworn in, Akhilesh said that the law and order was his government’s top priority.

He also made it clear that the government would implement the promises made in the election manifesto by his party.

“Funds will not be a problem...if funds can be arranged for statues and parks, there is no reason why we can not arrange funds for unemployment allowance and other schemes,” he added.