Mayawati trains her guns on governor

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati's list of enemies seems to be growing. Her tug-of-war with Union Defence Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav is still on. Her skirmishes with ruling partner Bharatiya Janata Party continue to smoulder.... And now she has trained her guns on state Governor Romesh Bhandari.

The governor's refusal to sign five ordinances sought to be promulgated by the state government sparked the duel, with Bhandari's Principal Secretary Sheshank Shekhar Singh getting caught in the crossfire.

Quoting various provisions of the Constitution and precedents of the Lok Sabha, Bhandari last week returned the ordinances to the chief minister. He said it be improper to promulgate these ordinances as the assembly was going to meet soon.

The proposed ordinances are amending the U P Minister and State Legislative Official and Member Perks Rules (Amendment) to enable the government to evict any ''unauthorised'' occupant with a mere 15-days notice; delegating power to all revenue courts for hearing cases of revisions under the Land Revenue Act; creating a subordinate public service commission for class III jobs in the Uttarakhand region; amending the Rural Housing Board Act, 1983, to enable the appointment of non-official chairperson; and amending the UP Water Supply and Sewage Arrangement Act.

While Raj Bhavan sees no ''urgency'' in promulgating the ordinances, political circles were agog with speculation. Speculation that Mayawati is desperate as the ordinances will allow her to settles scores with her rivals -- evicting them from their official accommodation. The governor was aware of Mayawati's designs, thanks to the tip-off received from his ''friend'' Mulayam Singh Yadav. And was in no mood to oblige Mayawati.

But the inimitable firebrand BSP leader too knew how to hit back and that too below the belt. Within 24 hours of the governor's refusal came the transfer order of the governor's principal secretary. Bhandari objected, saying it was mandatory to obtain his sanction before any decision regarding his personal secretariat is made.

Though Bhandari tried to retaliate by refusing to relieve the senior official, Mayawati had the last laugh. She promptly wrote back to the governor, saying the principal secretary was transferred on his request. The implication was that Singh must have consulted the governor before making such a request, putting Bhandari as well as Singh in a tight spot.

Mayawati's curt letter raised another pertinent point. Though the governor is entitled to only one secretary, he has three officers at that level, the letter said. ''Yet, if you are very keen to retain the services of Singh, I have no objection. But in that case, Singh will have to be divested of the charge of other departments -- civil aviation, tourism and culture -- which would be entrusted to someone else.''

Bhandari was upset not because he valued Singh's services, but because the governor would lose his indirect control over the civil aviation department. With Singh holding dual charge, Bhandari and members of his family were said to make use of the state's fleet of aircraft at their will.

As the chief minister's gameplan became obvious, Singh too prevailed upon Bhandari to relieve him with immediate effect.

A pilot by profession, Singh created history by rising to the top slot which has been the exclusive domain of IAS officers. Considered a result-oriented bureaucrat, he initially worked in the army. In 1979, he was deputed to the state government, to be absorbed shortly thereafter. He is the only non-IAS principal secretary in the state's history.

However, if Bhandari has been humbled, Mayawati was left with no option but to table the bills (replacing the five ordinances) in the state assembly during the current budget session.

Disputing the governor's contention on this score, the chief minister said, ''Ordinances have been passed even a day before the commencement of the legislative session not only in UP but also other states.'' In stalling the amendment on ''unauthorised occupants'', the governor ''perhaps had some compulsions'', she said.

On the other hand, Bhandari maintained, ''Whatever I have done was aimed at upholding the Constitution in letter and spirit.''

And as if to call a truce, at least for the time being, he went on to clarify, ''I respect the views of the cabinet just as the chief minister would give due regard to the governor's position. In any case, I am not entering into any kind of confrontation with the chief minister, but only trying to assist her.''

Political observers fear the truce may be temporary.