1 yr in power, Yogi faces ally ire

Shahira Naim

Tribune News Service

Lucknow, March 19

Throwing a spanner in the works of Chief Minister Yogi Aditynath-led BJP government's first anniversary celebrations, alliance partner and cabinet minister Om Prakash Rajbhar stayed away from the function, accusing the government of not being inclusive. 

However, speaking at a programme  ‘Ek Saal, Nayi Misaal’ held to mark the one year in office, CM Yogi claimed that his government's top priority was to ensure development for the person standing on the last step of the ladder. 

Going public with his grievances against the government, days after the major electoral reversal in Gorakhpur and Phulpur, Rajbhar gave the government three out of 10 marks and warned it to shape up or else be prepared to lose elections.

"Celebrating and talking about building temples in Mathura and Kashi will achieve nothing. No one else has the guts to question this government. If speaking the truth is revolt then I am revolting," Rajbhar asserted.

"What is the use of celebrating one year of this government? We formed an alliance with the BJP as we hoped that the BJP-led government would work for the poor. Nothing of that sort has happened, said Rajbhar charging CM Yogi of not involving him in the by- election campaigning. 

According to Rajbhar the government was discriminating against the poor and backward. 

His Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party, an alliance partner of BJP, has 4 MLAs with the Rajbhar OBC community as its core constituency.

As soon as news of Rajbhar's comments against the government became public parliamentary affairs ministers Suresh Khanna rushed to his residence to pacify him and make him attend the first year celebration function - 'Ek Saal, Nayi Misaal'. However, Khanna failed to bring Rajbhar to the function. 

Rajbhar has also threatened to boycott the Rajya Sabha polls scheduled for March 23 where BJP has fielded a 9th candidate to upset the SP-BSP- Congress plan to see through the BSP candidate by pooling their votes together. He has however, not pulled out of the alliance as yet.