Lucknow:
The decision to make Raja Bhaiyya a minister in the new government in Uttar Pradesh has generated new controversy - he has apparently lied about his age. The MLA from Kunda in the Pratapgarh district of Eastern Uttar Pradesh has serious cases pending against him including charges of murder and dacoity. The new chief minister, Akhilesh Yadav, made him the minister for prisons and five other ministries including food and civil supplies and consumer affairs.
In the documents submitted to the Election Commission before he contested the election, Raja Bhaiyya, whose real name is Raghuraj Pratap Singh, said he is 38 years old. This means he would have been 19 when he won his first election in 1993. That's impossible because any candidate for an election has to be at least 25 years old.
Akhilesh's father, Mulayam Singh Yadav, has defended the minister. "Who knows it might be the handiwork of some members of opposition parties...it's a conspiracy against the party," he said.
Sources in the Election Commission say that Raja Bhaiyya cannot be disqualified for lying about his age. At most, he could face six months in prison or be charged a fine.