THE RASHTRIYA Lok Dal has forwarded names of two more non-legislators to Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav for induction as ministers in his ministry.
Uncertainty, however, prevails over the timing of their induction as the Raj Bhawan is yet to give a go-ahead for the swearing-in ceremony.
Senior RLD leaders on Tuesday insisted that two of its nominees would be administered oath of office and secrecy at Raj Bhawan on Wednesday. A Raj Bhawan official, however, categorically said no time had been fixed for Wednesday.
Does the Raj Bhawan then have some reservation against the induction of ministers? With by-election ruled out due to assembly election next year and no vacancies in Vidhan Parishad, the question is how the RLD nominees would become members of either of the two houses within six months of their induction in the ministry to fulfill the Constitutional requirement.
Chief Minister’s office remained tightlipped on the issue.
It may be recalled that Dr Merajuddin Ahmad had recently ceased to be minister for irrigation when the RLD failed to get him elected as member of any of the two houses.
Those likely to be inducted into the ministry include Tara Chand Shastri and Khalid Chaudhary. Both of them are not members of either of the two houses of the State Legislature. While Shastri is likely to be inducted as cabinet minister, Khalid Chaudhary’s name has figured for the post of minister of state.
{{/usCountry}}Those likely to be inducted into the ministry include Tara Chand Shastri and Khalid Chaudhary. Both of them are not members of either of the two houses of the State Legislature. While Shastri is likely to be inducted as cabinet minister, Khalid Chaudhary’s name has figured for the post of minister of state.
{{/usCountry}}Khalid Chaudhary is likely to replace Minister of State for Rural Engineering Service Ganga Prasad Pushkar, who may be dropped from the Mulayam Singh Yadav ministry.
Meanwhile, there are indications that Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav is not in favour of dropping Pushkar from the ministry.
Asked whether the names of those to be sworn in have been forwarded to Raj Bhawan, a senior officer of chief minister’s secretariat said the correspondence between the Chief Minister and the Governor was privileged and could not be disclosed.