Page 23 - Tehelka Issue 13 - July 15, 2018

politics

hands on May 7, 2018, and launched portionate to their known source of leaders are keen to have an alli-
a fresh investigation into the mat- income. Despite undervaluing the ance with BSP as its vote share has
ter. The terms of reference equipped prime assets the CBI found it dis- gradually increased around six per
the premier investigation agency proportionate. The matter is pend- cent, whereas, Congress stood on
to look into the role of “politicians, ing before the apex court after many just 36.38 per cent in last elections.
bureaucrats and businessmen” in- turns and twists in the case. The sta- BSP had a good impact in Rewa and
volved in the alleged scam. tus report of CBI is still pending. The adjoining districts of Bundelkhand
The UP government also shared petitioner, Vishwanath Chaturvedi, region and won maximum 12 seats.
the CBI an FIR registered at Gomti is strongly pitching his crusade be- BJP with 44.87 per cent vote share
Nagar police station in November fore the apex court. Talking to Tehe- won 165 seats out of 230. Anti-
2017 against two companies which lka he said, “I will challenge the or- incumbency factor is against BJP
bought mills — Namrata Marketing ders passed by former CJI Altamas government but scattered opposi-
Pvt Ltd and Girasho Company Pvt Kabir whereby the name of Dimple tion and infighting among Congress
Ltd, which sources said were found Yadav was deleted on the ground leaders for establishing supremacy
‘fictitious’ in an enquiry report of the that she did not hold public office over other could be damaging the
state government. at the time when alleged offences prospects of Congress party.
The Comptroller and Auditor were committed.” The matter is like- AICC general secretary in-charge
General (CAG) also questioned sale ly to be expedited next month. of MP, Deepak Babaria, as a move to
of sugar mills at throw-away prices consolidate Dalit support base for
as compare to market rates in its his party announced that Dalit lead-
statutory audit report placed before The extension of er Surendra Chaudhary would be
the legislature. CAG found that the the alliance in MP the party’s choice for deputy chief
then Mayawati government had minister post if it comes to power
sold the state-owned 21sugar mills of Congress and in the state. There is no initiation
without following a fair procedure other smaller of alliance talks between Congress,
and surprisingly ten of these mills Bahujan Samaj Party as of now. BSP
were not sick - economically viable parties seems national leaders are tight-lipped
and fully functional in production. to be the most over the issue whereas, its state
Besides plant and machinery, these leaders are flexing muscles that
mills were built over 500 hectares worrisome they would contest in all the 230
worth around 2,000 crores ac- assembly seats. The decision also
cording to present day rates. The proposition for assumes significance as in Madhya
matter had been referred to Public the ruling BJP Pradesh, the Congress has plenty of
Accounts Committee for govern- problems within its leaders with all
ment undertakings. three — Jyotiraditya Scindia, Digvi-
Former minister Naseemuddin Meanwhile, the CBI and ED are jaya Singh and Kamal Nath — all ri-
Siddiqui, who was Mayawati’s close tightening the noose of famous valling to lead in the state.
aide, had alleged last year that the Yadav Singh matter that virtually A BSP-Congress alliance in Mad-
“sugar mills were sold on the direc- blocked the way for Samajwadi Par- hya Pradesh was predicted to be a
tives of then CM Mayawati and BSP ty to join “Mahagathbandhan” dur- game changer, where BJP has been
general secretary Satish Chandra ing Bihar assembly elections. One in power for three consecutive
Mishra.” However, Mayawati had of the co-accused in Noida Chief terms, as it would have helped the
asserted that the sale order for the Engineer-Yadav Singh bribery and Congress to improve its seat tally.
sugar mills was issued by Siddiqui, high-level corruption case char- Congress has been actively involved
who was later ousted from the party tered accountant Mohan Lal Rathi in issues related to atrocities and
for anti-party activities. Now, Maya- has turned approver and court al- violence against Dalit and weaker
wati is again under the CBI lens. lowed his application. It may likely sections, eyeing to consolidate their
Despite best efforts, Mishra did not lead the Samajwadi-Yadav clan into traditional vote bank at a time when
respond to the calls and messages of fresh trouble as Akhilesh Yadav the Dalit anger has emerged as na-
Tehelka to give his version. banks on his uncle Ram Gopal Ya- tional issue in last few months. The
Samajwadi Party patriarch Mu- dav more than anybody else. His son Congress leaders are still hopeful
layam Singh Yadav and his both and daughter-in-law were allegedly for an alliance but BJP stalwarts
sons Akhilesh Yadav and Prateek found hand in gloves with Yadav playing all sort of political moves to
Yadav along with his daughter-in- Singh money trail of disproportion- dismantle opposition unity.
law were facing grave charges of ate assets and money laundering.
amassing immovable assets dispro- Madhya Pradesh Congress letters@tehelka.com

Tehelka / 15 july 2018 23 www.Tehelka.com

22-23 Mudit.indd 3 03/07/18 3:46 PM