Mulayam defends Raja Bhaiya on row over his age

Lucknow: Controversial Uttar Pradesh cabinet minister Raghuraj Pratap Singh, alias Raja Bhaiya, today landed in another controversy over his age disclosed in his election nominations even as Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav backed him on his criminal antecedents. As per the affidavit filed by Raja Bhaiah, the indendent MLA, with his nomination papers in assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, he mentioned his age as 38 years. [caption id=“attachment_250850” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Asked on the issue, Mulayam Singh Yadav said he would work good as he was a youth. PTI”] [/caption] Raja won from Kunda seat in Pratapgarh district in 1993-the first time he entered the electoral fray—and if this affidavit is to be correct he should have been 19 years at that time, which is not the permissible age for contesting polls. One can contest assembly polls only after attaining the age of 25 years. Asked on the issue, Mulayam Singh Yadav said he would work good as he was a youth. Besides Prision, Raja Bhaiya has been alloted Food and Civil Supplies department in Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav’s cabinet. Raja Bhaiya was not available for comments. On criminal antecedents of Raja Bhai, Mulayam said “no court has held Raja Bhaiya guilty. There are many allegations against party members. Who is there in SP who does not have FIR registered against him?” PTI