'SP has only one agenda of vote bank politics': Congress on Raja Bhaiya's induction

Commenting on the induction of controversial Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiya into the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet, the Congress Party on Friday said that the ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) has only one agenda and that is to play and promote votebank politics.

"We do not have anything to comment on Raja Bhaiya re-inducted in the cabinet. It is an internal affair of the Samajwadi Party, and they have only one agenda of vote bank. The Samajwadi Party must be asked about their strategy, but Uttar Pradesh is burning right now, and people are fed up of their leaders," Congress leader Raj Babbar said.

Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh, echoing similar sentiments, said that Samajwadi Party needs people like Raja Bhaiya, who was charged with the murder of Kunda Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Zia-ul-Haq.

Earlier in the day, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav expanded his Cabinet after a gap of almost three months by inducting controversial Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiya as a minister.

Raja Bhaiya, who received a clean chit from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the murder of Kunda DSP Zia-ul-Haq, took oath at Raj Bhavan function here.

The independent MLA, who had to resign in March this year after he was named in the FIR by slain cop's wife Parveen Azad, had earlier after receiving a clean chit from the CBI, said that he had been framed in the conspiracy.

Akhilesh Yadav, who was also present at the oath-taking ceremony, had expanded his Cabinet last on July 18.