M A I N   N E W S

Akhilesh Yadav sacks his two ministers
Shahira Naim
Tribune News Service

Penalised for anti-party activities Anand Singh: His son Kirtivardhan said during a press conference in Gonda that despite being an MP, he had to pay a bribe of Rs 5,000 to Mulayam’s personal staff to seek an audience with him in 2004. Kirtivardhan joined the BJP a few weeks ago. Manoj Paras: He allegedly opposed the party's official candidate from the Nagina Lok Sabha seat besides hobnobbing with the BJP for the ticket for one of his family members.

Lucknow, March 9
Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav today dropped two ministers for alleged anti-party activities. Those sacked were Cabinet Minister for Agriculture Anand Singh and Minister of State for Stamp and Registration Manoj Paras.

Exit of Anand Singh was a foregone conclusion ever since his son and SP Lok Sabha candidate from Gonda Kirtivardhan Singh shifted loyalty to the BJP a few weeks ago.

Anand Singh is an MLA from Gaura in Gonda. What apparently cost Singh his Cabinet berth was his son Kirtivardhan's statement during a press conference in Gonda. Kirtivardhan reportedly said while he was a Samajwadi Party MP in 2004, he had to pay a bribe of Rs 5,000 to Mulayam's personal staff to meet him.

He also charged the SP chief of propagating dynastic politics. Manoj Paras allegedly not only opposed the party's official candidate from the Nagina Lok Sabha seat, but also hobnobbed with the BJP for the ticket for one of his family members.

Till recently, Paras was a favourite of the Akhilesh Yadav government. The government was working towards dropping rape charges against him. He was also handpicked to be part of the ministers’ five-country foreign junket earlier this year.