leader of Opposition in the UP Assembly and BSP general secretary, Swami Prasad Maurya called on Governor Ram Naik and is reported to have given his explanation on the controversy over the appointment of lokayukta.
Raj Bhawan sources however termed it as a courtesy call and maintained that the BSP leader met the Governor to wish him luck in the new year.
However, sources said that Maurya also handed over the reply to the Governor on the letter sent by Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court, DY Chandrachud over the appointment row.
Maurya is a part of the three-member committee that selects the lokayukta. Other members are Chief Minister and Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court.
The Chief Justice had voiced his objection the way the Supreme Court had selected Justice (Retd) Virendra Singh as lokayukta on December 16.
In his letter to the Governor, the Chief Justice had said that though Justice (retd) Virendra Singh’s name was discussed but it was rejected because he was related to senior SP leader Shivpal Singh Yadav.
The government had claimed that Justice (retd) Virendra Singh’s name was discussed and it was the first name out of five short-listed by the committee. Shivpal Singh Yadav too had claimed that he has no relations with Singh.
Governor had sent the copy of the letter of the Chief Justice to Maurya and Chief Minister, Akhilesh Yadav. The case about selection of the lokayukta is pending in the Supreme Court and will come up for hearing on January 19.