PRESIDENT OF the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) Ajit Singh today criticised Governor TV Rajeswar for putting on hold the swearing in of two RLD leaders on the ground that they were not members of the state legislature. Singh said Rajeswar was the first governor in the country to raise such an objection.
Talking to newsmen on Sunday, Singh, who was here to attend a Roza Iftar party, said there was nothing unconstitutional in installing two non-legislators as ministers. He said in the past Rajeswar had administered oath to Dr Mairajuddin Ahmad, who too was not a legislator. The RLD chief said the election guarantee sought by the governor for the two leaders, Tara Chand Shastri and Khalid Chaudhury, before oath was irrelevant. He said even if there was vacancy in the House, it was not necessary that they would have won the election to continue as ministers.
He said Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav had sent the names to the governor and the issue was still pending there. Singh said the RLD was not in the picture. New names could be considered only after the present issue was settled, Singh said adding there was no resentment in the RLD over the names of Shastri and Khalid. However, Singh refused to comment on the chief minister’s statement that Rajeswar was a Congress agent.
Referring to electoral alliance for assembly election, Singh said the party had so far not taken any decision on the issue. Reiterating that the issue would be decided only after consulting workers, Singh said the alliance would be on issues like reorganization of state, policy on farmers’ land acquisition and problem of rural areas.
{{/usCountry}}Referring to electoral alliance for assembly election, Singh said the party had so far not taken any decision on the issue. Reiterating that the issue would be decided only after consulting workers, Singh said the alliance would be on issues like reorganization of state, policy on farmers’ land acquisition and problem of rural areas.
{{/usCountry}}He said people wanted development, which was not possible without further division of the state. He said there should also be change in the cooperative laws to help farmers. He said the poll pact issue would now be taken up after the civic election. Singh said the party had decided to go it alone in the civic election. The RLD has fielded six mayoral candidates.