Mayawati, sworn in UP’s 24th CM, promises the usual clean-up

Sharat Pradhan in Lucknow

Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati on Friday assumed office as the 24th chief minister of India's most populous state, Uttar Pradesh.

Clad in an off-white salwar kurta, she came up to the spotlessly white stage along with Governor Romesh Bhandari and followed by two persons from her party and two from the BSP’s coalition partner, the Bharatiya Janata Party.

She took the oath of office and secrecy at 2.15 pm, while the crowd applauded repeatedly. Kalraj Misra, state BJP chief and Lalji Tandon (also of the BJP), R K Chaudhary and Sukhdeo Rajbhar of the BSP also took oath of office as ministers.

Banners on the walls and railings hailed the return to power of the dalit woman, while her supporters burst crackers outside the stadium.

Mayawati drove straight to Raj Bhavan, where the governor had hosted tea in her honour. Thereafter, she garlanded two statues of B R Ambedkar, that champion of the backward communities and architect of the Constitution, and one of Mahatma Gandhi before formally assuming office for the second time.

Among those present at the ceremony were former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Kalyan Singh of the BJP, and Kanshi Ram, the BSP chief.

Later she declared at a press conference that she would review major decisions taken when President's rule was imposed on the state, and order investigations into alleged atrocities. "My first priority is to establish the rule of law that had been completely eroded during the long spell of President's rule," she said.

"Corruption which has become rampant at all levels in the government will not be tolerated at any cost," she said, adding, "Those found guilty of corruption charges will be subjected to stern action."

Lamenting that President's rule had "left the common people high and dry", Mayawati said all district and subdivisional magistrates and senior policemen have been directed to hold janata durbars in their respective districts every day between 11 am and 12 noon, for on-the-spot disposal of complaints, she said.

To ensure proper functioning, the new chief minister has also directed divisional commissioners and deputy inspector generals of police to visit districts under them by rotation on a weekly basis.

"I will also make surprise visits to the districts and if any officials were found to be lax in dealing with people's grievances, they will be dealt with in the severest of terms," she promised.

Asked whether her government would make a formal recommendation to the Centre for the constitution of the state of Uttrakhand, since the United Front government had sought such a move, Mayawati retorted, "The central government is trying to mislead the people. A resolution to that effect had been passed and forwarded to the Centre long ago, so there is nothing that stops them from giving Uttrakhand statehood. But the BSP was still willing to make such a recommendation, if the Centre so desired.

Mayawati said she also intended to hand over allotted by the governor to the landless poor. Claiming she knew many cases where despite allotment of land, the poor were deprived of their legitimate right over such lands, she promised, "I will launch a special drive this time."

However, the chief minister remained noncommittal on many queries about state administration stating that since the BSP was part of a coalition, many decisions would have to be taken jointly. But she assured the press that what she did over the next six months -- after which she hands over the reins to her coalition partner -- will equal that done in the last six years.

That perhaps includes the time she was chief minister earlier.