Raja Bhaiya back in UP cabinet

LUCKNOW: Seven months after he was shown the door for his alleged involvement in the conspiracy to kill deputy SP Zia-Ul-Haq, Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiya made a grand reentry into the Akhilesh Yadav cabinet in UP on Friday.

The comeback, following a clean chit from the CBI, is being seen as another example of the young CM’s feeble grip on his government . Raja Bhaiya is close to Mulayam Singh Yadav and Akhilesh had reservations about his induction into the cabinet when the SP swept to power in March 2012 because of his criminal background, say party insiders.

On Friday, Raja’s comeback was almost reminiscent of a king’s coronation with posters proclaiming his victory coming coming up across the city. “The criminal cases against me were politically motivated , lodged against me by Mayawati during her tenure. I am innocent. I agreed to the polygraph test to prove it and the CBI has absolved me of all charges,” Raja Bhaiya said. He was cabinet minister for prisons, food and civil supplies before resigning in March. Although portfolio allocation will be done later , sources said he is likely to retain the food and civil supplies ministry.

The Thakur leader’s re-induction comes at a time when he was believed to be inching closer to BJP. The need for his re-entry , insiders say, was felt because of mafia donturned-politician Brij Bhushan Saran Singh’s likely exit from SP. As a prominent Thakur face in the party , Brij Bhushan’s exit necessitated Raja Bhaiya’s return. Raja Bhaiya faces eight criminal cases. His reinstatement is being seen as a message to the Thakur community ahead of polls due in May.