Date:20/03/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/03/20/stories/2007032015580300.htm

Other States - Uttar Pradesh

UP Minister to contest on UDF ticket

Allahabad: In a setback to the Mulayam Singh Government in Uttar Pradesh, Minister for Haj and Minorities Welfare Haji Yaqoob Qureishi has decided to contest the Assembly elections as the United Democratic Front nominee from two seats in Meerut district.

While Parliamentary Board chairman of UDF Mehboob Ahmed claimed that Qureishi would resign from the Government on March 23, the Minister said that as per the Election Commission, there was no need for him to resign for contesting as a UDF nominee.

Qureishi, who had broken away from the BSP to join the Mulayam Singh Yadav Government in 2003, said that after disqualification of 13 such MLAs by the apex court, the remaining legislators were more or less like independents. This brings the curtain down on Yadav's efforts to carry the UDF with him to keep his Muslim vote bank intact. PTI