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UP CM admits role of money in RS election

Sharat Pradhan in Lucknow

Money played a major role in the recently-concluded Rajya Sabha biennial in Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Ram Prakash Gupta conceded today. He also blamed the use of money for the cross-voting that disturbed the calculations of all political parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Gupta blamed businessmen for the situation.

"The flow of money in the Rajya Sabha elections is a gift from the affluent businessmen in the fray," he said, while adding that he himself did not favour such people being fielded in the election to the upper house. And he had his own solution to the problem.

"If every party could be allotted Rajya Sabha seats in accordance with their voting strength in the state legislatures, the problem will automatically come to an end," he said, but declined to state whether he would send this suggestion to the prime minister or the President.

Asked if the blatant use of money power by BJP's allies had not tarnished the image of his party too, Gupta shot back, "The image of our party remains distinct from that of our allies." He went on to add, "but that does not mean that we are not concerned about cross-voting in our party too; the matter was being taken up at the organisational level and I am sure we will be able to find some way to fix this."

He also squashed rumours about his removal from the prized office he was conferred upon as a "non-controversial" and "universally acceptable" alternative to his ousted predecessor, the high-profile Kalyan Singh. "All effort to dislodge me have gone in vain and I can assure you that I am not going anywhere," he said in reply to a question.

Reiterating his oft repeated opposition to corruption in the state, he disclosed that as many as 260 vigilance probes against senior government officials had been finalised and their approval by the concerned departments would be expedited.

Earlier, in the day, while addressing all principal secretaries and secretaries to the state government on the opening day of the new financial year, he stressed upon the need for a "responsive administration to meet the daily needs of the common people."

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