Ajit Singh sworn in

Ahead of the crucial electoral battle in Uttar Pradesh, Rashtriya Lok Dal leader Ajit Singh was on Sunday sworn in as cabinet minister in a brief ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Singh’s induction as civil aviation minister is seen as UPA’s strategy to mobilize Jat voters in western UP in its favour as it comes days after he struck an electoral deal with Congress. The move is also aimed at strengthening UPA’s tally as the government is finding difficult to push through several important legislations in Parliament. UPA managers cannot trust BSP and SP for their support in Parliament as Congress general secretary Rahul has launched an offensive campaign against both the parties in the fight for UP. RLD has five members in Lok Sabha, including Singh and his son Jayant Chaudhary. Singh, son of former PM Charan Singh and a six-time member of the Lok Sabha, was the only minister to take oath administered by President Pratibha Patil. Soon after his swearing in, Singh attacked the Mayawati government, saying people were disenchanted with the “oppressive” BSP regime in UP. Singh washopeful his party’s alliance with the Congress would provide a “clear-cut alternative” to the BSP in UP and said the “wave” generated in UP due to the Congress-RLD alliance would be felt across India. While attendance was thin on Sunday, PM Manmohan Singh, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi were present. Senior ministers, including finance minister Pranab Mukherjee and foreign minister S M Krishna, stayed away due to prior engagements.