Sharat Pradhan

Stories by Sharat Pradhan

Wrapping of Mayawati's statues begins in poll-bound UP

Wrapping of Mayawati's statues begins in poll-bound UP

Rediff.com   9 Jan 2012

Dozens of statues of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati and numerous that of elephants (which also happens to be ruling Bahujan Samaj Party's election symbol) in and around parks and memorials built by her in Lucknow and Noida were being hurriedly veiled from Monday morning by officials in pursuance of the Election Commission's order.

UP BJP MPs up the ante against Kushwaha's entry to party

UP BJP MPs up the ante against Kushwaha's entry to party

Rediff.com   6 Jan 2012

Prominent Bhartiya Janata Party leaders on Friday came out openly against their party leadership's decision to induct tainted and ousted Bahujan Samaj Party minister Babu Singh Kushwaha into the party fold.

CBI arrests 3 in NRHM scam, but not Kushwaha

CBI arrests 3 in NRHM scam, but not Kushwaha

Rediff.com   6 Jan 2012

The Central Bureau of Investigation arrested two more officials and a businessman on Friday morning in connection with the Rs 8000-crore National Rural Health Mission scam. The three arrests were made at the CBI headquarters, where the accused were brought a day earlier for interrogation. P K Jain, former general manager of Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam Construction and Design, was arrested on Thursday shortly after he was questioned by CBI sleuths in New Delhi.

Gadkari has no comments on Kushwaha's induction into BJP

Gadkari has no comments on Kushwaha's induction into BJP

Rediff.com   5 Jan 2012

Not everyone in the BJP is happy with the tainted ex-minister entering the party. BJP MP from Gorakhpur, Yogi Adityanath, blamed the BJP leadership for bringing Kushwaha into the party. Sharat Pradhan reports.

SP spokesman removed unceremoniously for defying Mulayam's son

SP spokesman removed unceremoniously for defying Mulayam's son

Rediff.com   5 Jan 2012

Samajwadi Party spokesman Mohan Singh had issued a statement contradicting Akhilesh Yadav's stand on the proposed induction of mafia don turned politician D P Yadav into the party. Sharat Pradhan reports.

Hours after he joins BJP, UP politician raided

Hours after he joins BJP, UP politician raided

Rediff.com   4 Jan 2012

Hours after he joined the Bharatiya Janata Party, ousted Bahujan Samaj Party minister and former Mayawati confidante Babu Singh Kushwaha was raided by the Central Bureau of Investigation early on Wednesday morning.

EC puts cap on number of vehicles used in election campaign

EC puts cap on number of vehicles used in election campaign

Rediff.com   3 Jan 2012

The Election Commission on Tuesday announced a ceiling on the number of vehicles that could be put to use by any candidate contesting the forthcoming state assembly election next month.

Uttar Pradesh CM Mayawati sacks 11th minister

Uttar Pradesh CM Mayawati sacks 11th minister

Rediff.com   2 Jan 2012

Yet another minister in the Uttar Pradesh government, on Monday, was sacked by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati. The UP CM has been on a firing spree since the past ten days. The number of sacked UP ministers went up to 11 on Monday.

After Mayawati, Rahul targets BJP, Mulayam

After Mayawati, Rahul targets BJP, Mulayam

Rediff.com   29 Dec 2011

After a sustained attack on the ruling Bahujan Samaj Party over the last three days, Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi on Thursday trained his guns on the Bharatiya Janata Party. Significantly, his first major attack on BJP came in parts of Pilibhit, the political turf of his first cousin and BJP member of Parliament Varun Gandhi. He accused BJP of making only "false and hollow promises" with the sole intent of serving its short-term political gains.

Ahead of UP polls, Mayawati sacks two more ministers

Ahead of UP polls, Mayawati sacks two more ministers

Rediff.com   28 Dec 2011

In a surprise move, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati sacked two more of her ministers on Wednesday evening, taking the number of dropped ministers over the past two months to six.

Rahul targets BJP for Constitution Amendment Bill on Lokpal

Rahul targets BJP for Constitution Amendment Bill on Lokpal

Rediff.com   28 Dec 2011

Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday held Bharatiya Janata Party responsible for the defeat of Constitution Amendment Bill on Lokpal.

EC to keep tab on poll expenditure including paid news

EC to keep tab on poll expenditure including paid news

Rediff.com   28 Dec 2011

Gone are the days when political parties and their nominees could get away by inserting "paid news" in the columns of news papers or through paid slots on TV channels.

Mayawati slams Centre for returning UP division proposal

Mayawati slams Centre for returning UP division proposal

Rediff.com   20 Dec 2011

Taking strong exception to the central government's decision to return the proposal for division of the state into four parts, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Tuesday flayed the United Progressive Alliance regime for what she termed as "total apathy" towards the issue.

Mayawati woos Muslims, seeks fifth term as birthday gift

Mayawati woos Muslims, seeks fifth term as birthday gift

Rediff.com   18 Dec 2011

Favouring reservation for Muslims, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Sunday said that 27 per cent Other Backward Class quota should be increased by making constitutional amendment to include backward Muslims in it. "The Bahujan Samaj Party government favours quota for Muslims. The Centre should amend the constitution and increase 27 per cent quota of OBCs to include muslims in it. Our party will support it," Mayawati said addressing a rally in Lucknow.

Mayawati goes all out to woo Muslims, Kshatriyas and Vaishyas

Mayawati goes all out to woo Muslims, Kshatriyas and Vaishyas

Rediff.com   17 Dec 2011

After her attempts attract Brahmins and Dalits, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Bahujan Samaj Party president Mayawati is now all set to woo Muslims, Kshatriyas and Vaishyas.

Maya issues 'white-paper' to give her govt a clean-chit

Maya issues 'white-paper' to give her govt a clean-chit

Rediff.com   16 Dec 2011

In a bid to give her own government a clean chit, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Friday released a white paper on the allegations of rampant corruption in her regime.

UP govt slaps Gangster's Act on arrested BSP MP

UP govt slaps Gangster's Act on arrested BSP MP

Rediff.com   15 Dec 2011

The Uttar Pradesh government on Thursday slapped the Gangster's Act on mafia don-turned-Bahujan Samaj Party MP Dhananjay Singh who was arrested last week in connection with a double-murder committed in 2010.

Mulayam Jr expels SP protestor at Rahul Gandhi meet

Mulayam Jr expels SP protestor at Rahul Gandhi meet

Rediff.com   13 Dec 2011

In line with his plan for a complete makeover of the Samajwadi Party, Akhilesh Yadav, the party general secretary and son of chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, on Tuesday expelled a functionary for indulging in vandalism and showing black flags to Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi in Aligarh earlier in the day.

Maya sings Anna tune, wants PM, lower bureaucracy under Lokpal

Maya sings Anna tune, wants PM, lower bureaucracy under Lokpal

Rediff.com   13 Dec 2011

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati has had a change of heart as far as Anna Hazare's campaign for the Jan Lokpal Bill is concerned. Singing the same tune as the anti-corruption crusader, Mayawati said on Tuesday that the prime minister, the Central Bureau of Investigation and all section of government employees should be brought under the ambit of the Lokpal.

BSP MP arrested in double murder case in Lucknow

BSP MP arrested in double murder case in Lucknow

Rediff.com   11 Dec 2011

Don-turned-Bahujan Samaj Party member of Parliament Dhananjay Singh was arrested in Lucknow on Sunday evening in connection with his alleged involvement in a double murder case.