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Chief minister of India's most populous state resigns

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October 26, 2000 

LUCKNOW (AP) - The chief executive of India's most populous state resigned Wednesday clearing the way for his successor to take charge two weeks before the state is split into two smaller units.

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party leadership had Tuesday decided to replace Ram Prakash Gupta with party loyalist and federal Transport Minister, Rajnath Singh.

Soon after Gupta handed over his resignation to the federally appointed governor, the party's state unit on Wednesday ratified Singh's appointment as chief minister to head a coalition government in the state.

Singh listed managing the state's fiscal situation, promoting industrial growth and improving law and order in the state as his priorities once he becomes chief minister.

"My first task would be to generate resources for the state. Unless the state earns more money, it would be difficult to work toward fiscal reform or to boost industrial development," Singh said.

Singh's appointment as chief minister comes just weeks before the creation of a new Himalayan state, to be called Uttaranchal, on Nov. nine.

India's Parliament last month passed legislation to create Uttaranchal, a state comprised of the northern districts of Uttar Pradesh. The government says the breaking up of the province into two smaller states will result in better administration and swifter development of neglected areas in the state.

Singh will be administered the oath of office and secrecy on Oct. 28.