In an unexpected move, Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav met Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik here on Thursday reportedly in connection with the nomination of nine members for the Legislative Council. The nine nominated members were to be named by May 25 when the term of the nine MLCs nominated by the BSP regime expired.

But the Governor threw a spanner in the works of the SP government when he returned the list. Mr. Naik asked for some clarifications about the background of the nine.

Mr. Singh reached Raj Bhavan at around 11.45 a.m. and was with the Governor for about an hour. The SP supremo denied that the issue of Vidhan Parishad nominations was discussed with Mr. Naik.

Mr. Mualayam Singh told waiting media persons that the meeting was a courtesy call considering that he and Mr. Naik were together in the Lok Sabha. On the queries posed by the Governor on the eligibility of the recommended candidates, Mr. Singh said the party would file its reply.

The list was sent to Raj Bhavan on May 20, but on the same day a couple of petitions were sent to the Governor questioning the eligibility of the nominees. Sources said the list along with the Governor’s queries was returned to the State government on May 23. The Governor sought to know whether any candidate was involved in a criminal case in the past, or was involved in any kind of questionable financial matters. More importantly, the State government has been asked to furnish details on whether the candidates fulfilled the requirement of being eminent persons from the field of art, culture, dance, music, social work and literature, the sources claimed.

The SP chief’s meeting with the Governor has fuelled speculation that the list may be revised and some new names may be included and some others dropped after Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav returns from his foreign visit.