UP chief secretary quits over differences with Mayawati

In a sudden development, Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Prashant Kumar Misra resigned Friday evening, reportedly over differences with Chief Minister Mayawati.

Misra's resignation was accepted within minutes of its submission to the chief minister's office, and the state industrial commissioner Atul Gupta was appointed to succeed him,

While Misra declined to divulge reasons behind his sudden decision, he admitted that it was taken on account of a sudden provocation earlier in the day.

"I took the decision today (Friday) itself to take voluntary retirement," Misra told IANS. "I do not wish to discuss the reasons behind it. All I would like to say is that I have served the state and the country for a good 36 years and have no regrets." Misra was scheduled to retire Aug 30.

Difference of opinion with the chief minister provoked Misra to put in his papers earlier too, when he declined to ratify the clean chit given to former chief secretary Neera Yadav in a departmental probe carried out by another senior official.

Yadav was removed from the top job on charges of corruption by the Supreme Court after a petition was moved against her by a city journalist.

But in the departmental inquiry, Mayawati gave Neera Yadav a clean chit. Misra had then objected to the manner in which the whole operation was carried out without his concurrence.

He was, however, then persuaded by colleagues and friends not to resign.

What precipitated the issue Friday morning was not clear.