By IANS
Lucknow : Anand Sen Yadav of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), who won the Uttar Pradesh assembly election while he was in prison, was sworn in as minister Wednesday after he was released on bail.
Yadav, who represents Milkipur in Faizabad district, was facing trial in at least eight criminal cases including of murder and attempted murder.
While spelling out his priorities, he said: "Apart from other priorities laid down by Behenji (Chief Minister Mayawati), law and order is also on top of my list."
When a scribe reminded him of his track record, Yadav shot back saying, "those cases are motivated because of political rivalries. Any way, these cases do not make me a criminal."
Queried further how he proposed to take care of law and order when he was still behind bars, he replied: "Well, I am out on bail at the moment."
Sen's name had been included in the list of ministers to be inducted on the very first day of the formation of the Mayawati government, according to BSP sources.
He, however, failed to show up as he was in Faizabad jail.
His father, BSP MP Mitrasen Yadav, has been named by an accused in the human trafficking racket that came to light last month following the arrest of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Babubhai Katara in Delhi.
Along with Yadav's induction in the ministry, Mayawati also upgraded Ram Achal Rajbhar, a minister of state, as cabinet minister.