Big Jolt To BJP In Poll Bound UP As Minister SP Maurya Quits Party, Joins SP

LUCKNOW: In a massive jolt to ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, state minister Swami Prasad Maurya on Tuesday resigned from the party. And no sooner was it done, Samajwadi Party chief and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Akhilesh Yadav welcomed Maurya to the party fold.

In his resignation letter to Governor Anandiben Patel, Maurya said, “Despite a divergent ideology, I worked with dedication in the Yogi Adityanath cabinet. But because of the grave oppression of Dalits, OBCs, farmers, unemployed and small businessmen, I am resigning.”

After Maurya’s resignation, Akhilesh Yadav tweeted a picture with the former BJP leader.

In his tweet, Yadav said, “I welcome Swami Prasad Maurya into Samajwadi Party along with his supporters who fought for social justice and equality.”

He also said that in 2022 there will be change of social revolution and his party will come to power.

This is second big exit in UP from the ruling BJP. On Monday, BJP MLA from Badaun’s Bilsi assembly constituency Radha Krishna Sharma resigned and joined the Samajwadi Party.

Uttar Pradesh is scheduled to go to polls in seven phases from February 10 to March 7. Counting of votes will take place on March 10.

The ruling BJP is looking for a second consecutice term in the 403 member assembly while the Samajwadi Party, Congress and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) are trying to make a comeback in the politically sensitive state.