Lucknow, May 14
Stung by the humiliating defeat of the Samajwadi Party candidate in Rae Bareli by Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav got down to making the electorate sweat it out — literally.
Mulayam ordered load shedding in Rae Bareli that has been exempted so far from the routine cuts enforced in most parts of the state.
The order dated May 12 superseded an earlier direction of December 11 whereby Rae Bareli and Rahul Gandhi’s neighbouring Amethi constituency were exempted from power cuts on the same lines as Saifai, the hometown of Mulayam in Etawah district.
Also exempted were the constituencies of some prominent ministers in the Mulayam Cabinet as well as districts represented by allies like Rashtriya Lok Dal of Ajit Singh.
While Saifai and other areas continue to enjoy the special privilege, the new order issued clearly states: “The order regarding exemption of Rae Bareli and Amethi parliamentary constituencies from load shedding stands cancelled with immediate effect.” Even in the state capital, a three-hour load shedding was ordered.
The inclusion of Rae Bareli and Amethi in the “privileged” list was made at Mulayam’s own behest, when he addressed a public rally in Rae Bareli on December 10. In an obvious bid to win over the local electorate, the Chief Minister declared an end to the era of power cuts in the constituency, bringing cheers to the people.
— IANS
