CM Akhilesh Yadav parries question on merger of QED, SP

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on 17 August parried questions on the merger of criminal-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari's party Quami Ekta Dal with Samajwadi Party, merely saying that SP would once again form the government in the state.

"Samajwadi Party will form government in the state again (in 2017). What I can say is that SP will government again in the state due to the development works initiated by it," said Akhilesh avoiding a direct reply when asked about QED's merger with SP again.

Akhilesh was briefing the media after a Cabinet meeting in which a Metro Rail project was approved for Allahabad. "The work of construction of metro is going on in Lucknow and the DPRs (Detailed Project Report) for Varanasi and Kanpur have already been approved.

"We have decided to start metro in Allahabad and report for the same will be prepared," he said. He claimed that UP was the only state in the country in which such a large number of Metro Rail projects were underway.

Akhilesh said the Cabinet has also approved a scheme to provide free school bags and books to students till class VIII in government schools.

A decision to increase the salaries of Cabinet and state ministers was also approved. On minister Ziauddin Rizvi, who could not take oath last month as he had gone for 'Umrah', Akhilesh said, "Oath will take place soon". Akhilesh's uncle and senior cabinet minister Shivpal Yadav was not present in the Cabinet meeting. Party sources said he was in Moradabad to attend a programme.

-PTI