Controversial independent Member of Legislative Assembly Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiya, who had to resign from the Uttar Pradesh cabinet in March after killing of Deputy Superintendent of Police Zia-ul-Haq in Pratapgarh, was on Friday re-inducted as a minister.
As questions remained whether the killing of a police officer in which Raja Bhaiya has been booked was planned, a postmortem showed the victim was beaten up before being shot dead.
Facing strident demands for the arrest of Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiya booked in the DSP murder case, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday promised to take action against those found guilty.
A visibly upset Shivpal Yadav said, "I was never called to any meeting (of the SP) and no information was given to me."
While a few 'bahubalis' managed wins in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, a majority of them were rejected by the voters. According to the results, many alleged dons-turned-politicians failed to make it to the Uttar Pradesh Assembly.
State deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya among 692 candidates are contesting on 61 seats spread across 12 districts in the fifth phase.
Campaigning for the fifth phase ended on Friday evening, and all necessary arrangements have been completed, state Chief Election Officer Ajay Kumar Shukla said in Lucknow on Saturday.
The last two phases of the elections will be held on March 3 and 7.
Yadav fought hard, but his party was well behind the BJP.
Opportunistic face of SP has come before the people: Yogi Adityanth.
The Centre on Thursday handed over to Central Bureau of Investigation the probe into the killings of Pratapgarh Deputy Superintendent Police Zia-ul-Haq and two others following a request from the Uttar Pradesh government.
The Central Bureau of Investigation is all set to start a probe into the death of DSP Zia-ul-Haq in Pratapgarh in Uttar Pradesh in the backdrop of a growing demand for action against the state's ruling Samajwadi Party leader Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiya.
A day after Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister Shivpal Yadav said that no minister will be sacked without probe in the murder case of a journalist, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday asserted that his government would ensure no injustice is meted to anyone.
Samajwadi Party activists staged demonstrations across Uttar Pradesh on Monday against the arrest of independent member of Legislative Assembly Raghuraj Pratap Singh, popularly known as Raja Bhaiya, for his alleged involvement in an attempt to kidnap and murder a candidate in the local bodies election. More than 500 party activists were detained for resorting to violence, said a SP spokesperson.
Samajwadi Party member of Parliament Shailendra Kumar, two members of Legislative Assembly including Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiya, and a member of Legislative Council were on Sunday arrested in Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh on charges of an attempt to murder after they allegedly threatened a candidate in local body elections, the police said.
A special Central Bureau of Investigation court on Tuesday rejected the agency's closure report giving clean chit to controversial minister Raja Bhaiyya in Kunda Deputy Superintendent of Police, Zia-ul-Haq's murder case, and directed it to further investigate the matter.
The Mulayam Singh-led government had withdrawn the case.
The UP government said it would not sack any of its ministers without a probe, days after a cabinet minister was accused of orchestrating the murder of a journalist in the state.
Shami had been a five-time president of the Mauaima block. He was allegedly involved in a number of criminal cases.
A number of royals have thrown their hat in the ring in the high-voltage Uttar Pradesh assembly elections.
The Central Bureau of Investigation may give a clean chit to former Uttar Pradesh Minister Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiyya in the murder of Kunda Deputy Superintendent of Police Zia-ul-Haq as it has not found any anomaly in the lie detector test conducted on him.
This phase of voting was crucial for the state's ruling Samajwadi Party and main opposition Bahujan Samaj Party.
Even though Mulayam Singh decided which ministers to drop and which ministers to lose their portfolios, the reshuffle is being projected as a reflection of Akhilesh Yadav's assertive self.
A 17-member delegation of the Uttar Pradesh government on Wednesday left for a five-nation tour from Lucknow, drawing criticism from opposition parties for undertaking the visit at a time when Muzaffarnagar riot victims were living in difficult circumstances in relief camps.
The much speculated expansion of the Uttar Pradesh cabinet will take place on Thursday. Chief Minister Aklhilesh Yadav, who gave indications to that effect on Tuesday, is all set for enlarging the size of his 56-member council of ministers.
Yogi Adityanath on Monday completed 100 days in office as Uttar Pradesh chief minister but it was a low-key anniversary with no big event to showcase the achievements of the government.
"The BJP tried every trick to defeat the BSP candidate and indulged in malpractices," the BSP supremo alleged.
Amidst barbs flying back and forth, Rediff.com's Aslam Hunani lists all that you need to know about the fourth phase of the UP assembly elections, which will take place on February 23.
Formidable challenges including funds for the farm loan-waiver, and law and order stare him at his face, with the opposition claiming the misses have outnumbered the hits.
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