Cong rebels upset as UP CM retains key portfolios

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh on Monday retained as many as 21 departments including the vital home, finance and law ministries while announcing the long-awaited distribution of portfolios to his jumbo 93-member ministry.

The Uttar Pradesh Loktantrik Congress, comprising Congress rebels who saved his government during the October 21 trust vote, was unhappy with the distribution of portfolios. The party was given agriculture, transport and energy among other departments.

The party said Kalyan Singh should have consulted them before taking any decision in this regard.

Loktantrik Congress leader and Energy Minister Naresh Agarwal said, ''Although allocating portfolios is at the chief minister's discretion, he should have discussed the issue with us.''

He, however, denied that there was any resentment among his partymen over the issue.

He said his party has not made any compromise to save the government. ''We supported Kalyan Singh just to save the state from political instability,'' he added.

UNI