Mulayam irks Bhandari by protecting official

Tara Shankar Sahay in New Delhi

Uttar Pradesh Governor Romesh Bhandari is annoyed with his old friend, Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, for helping state chief secretary Brijendra Sahay keep his job.

A senior home ministry official said the UP chief secretary, who had jeopardised his position by claiming that Bhandari had okayed a file he sent to the Centre claiming there was nothing wrong with the law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh.

The official said Mulayam Singh, reacting to protests from state bureaucrats, prevailed on Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda not to get rid of Sahay. While this helped Mulayam Singh maintain his Samajwadi Party government’s reputation as being both secular and popular, his willingness to displease Bhandari, spawned rumours that Bhandari’s tenure may be coming to an end. Sahay’s gratitude may also be of aid to Mulayam Singh in future.

Mulayam Singh could not be contacted at his residence as he was said to be attending an urgent meeting.

Home Minister Indrajit Gupta has often warned Prime Minister to keep out of his ministry’s affairs, warnings Deve Gowda has often blandly ignored, But Gupta did not protest when Sahay was retained. Gupta too appears anxious to settle his differences with Bhandari.