UP governor clears names of three nominated lawmakers

After days of suspense over his decision on the recommendations made by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav for nominated members of the Uttar Pradesh legislative council, Governor Ram Naik on Friday approved the names of Balwant Singh Ramoowalia, Zaheer Hasan 'Waseem Barelvi' and Madhukar Jaitley.

The decision enables Ramoowalia, who is state prison minister, to keep his post as the period he had to become a member of either house of the state legislature was set to expire within the next 24 hours.

While Hasan is a celebrated Urdu poet, Jaitley had been an advisor to the state government on 'externally-aided projects' for some time but was removed after serious differences emerged with the ruling party. He became a bitter critic of the chief minister but remained close to his father and Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh Yadav.

The governor has however returned the name of Rajpal Kashyap, yet again with some queries.

Naik had already okayed the names of Shri Ram Singh Yadav, Leelawati Kushawaha, Ram Vriksh Singh and Jitendra Yadav in July 2015. With this, seven names have been cleared out for the ten positions of nominated members.

--IANS

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