Akhilesh puts austerity on the backburner

About three months after UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav ordered a major cut in the security around his official residence in a stark departure from his predecessor Mayawati, who had deployed multi-layered security, the CM’s official residence on Kalidas Marg has again been turned into a fortress.

Similarly, movement of vehicles is also coming to a grinding halt when Akhilesh’s motorcade is moving in the city. This is also against another decision the new CM had taken, according to which he had lifted a ban on traffic movement whenever the CM’s motorcade was in the city.

Akhilesh had promised that during his regime, neither any barriers would be put up around his residence, nor would the traffic be stopped during the movement of his motorcade. Both the decisions had earned Akhilesh a sobriquet of being a ‘people’s CM’.

Just after completing three months in his office, he has eschewed both his promises, causing a dent to his image.

Officially no reason has been given behind the enhanced security arrangements.

According to sources, Akhilesh had been briefed that he faced a terrorist threat and inputs in this regard had been received by the police authorities. The sources said that the  police officers conducted a security drill at his office and increased police bandobast from Wednesday.

Besides ordering a major cut in the security around his official residence and certain other privileges availed by his predecessor Mayawati, Akhilesh, after taking oath of office of the UP CM on March 15, in a bid to send a strong message that he means business, had also thrown open Kalidas Marg to common people, who could not enter it during Mayawati’s rule.

The new CM had met the jubilant masses outside his official residence and had also promised to keep it accessible for the people.