Lucknow, Nov 7 (IANS): The Uttar Pradesh government late Wednesday appointed V.C. Mishra, 83, as the new advocate general, an official said.

Governor B.L. Joshi approved Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav's recommendation of appointing him, and also accepted the resignation of S.P. Gupta for the post.

A notification of the appointment was issued.

Gupta had earlier quit citing personal reasons, but sources said the state government was miffed with the him because of the continued legal wrangles it had to face in different courts over the laxity of government law officers.

Mishra comes from Etawah, the home town of Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and has held key positions in the Allahabad High Court in the past.

He has been Allahabad High Court Bar Council's president seven times, and thrice the chairman of the Bar Council of India. He was a student leader in his college days and was involved in the freedom struggle. He is also known for his proximity with the ruling SP.