As per the new amendments made by the four-year-old Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party government employees now need to work only for six months a year in Uttar Pradesh

With assembly elections due next year, the government has declared three more holidays.

The new holidays are dedicated to political leaders - the government has not been choosey about their party affiliation. The list includes birth anniversaries of former Prime Ministers Charan Singh and Chandrashekhar and former Bihar Chief Minister Karpoori Thakur.

"It is important to celebrate the life of these stalwarts as a holiday to inspire people," said a Samajwadi  Party legislator in its defense.

The holiday tally of Uttar Pradesh is 38, in comparison to other big states like Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, which have 25 public holidays.

Coupled with a five-day week for Vidhan Sabha staff and departmental head offices, three holidays for district-level employees and two optional holidays, most government employees can be off six months a year.

Not everyone is celebrating though.

A petition has been filed in the Lucknow High Court against "holiday politics". The petitioner, Amitabh Thakur, said, "I have asked the court to restrict the holidays to a minimum and not allow holidays in the names of every political leader. Only a few should be allowed".

While half of the year running on leaves, people are wondering how the state progress with these leaders without vision and leadership. Yes, absolutely they are ‘leaders minus leadership’. To titillate the comedy nerves, few are mocking that the government’s new initiation will at least save the government expenses like electricity bills, while others blamed the Sarkar for taking them back to the rock ages. 

If the same continues, Pakistan will also develop, but not UP

- Manohar