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In his resignation letter to Mayawati, Pandey expressed frustration over the lack of engagement with party leadership, signaling a prevailing sentiment among BSP MPs. With Azad’s potential move to the BJP, four out of ten BSP Lok Sabha MPs have either defected or expressed intentions to do so.
NEW DELHI: Ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) is experiencing turbulence as its MP, Sangeeta Azad, joins the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday at BJP Headquarters in Delhi, in the presence of Vinod Tawde, National General Secretary, and notable leaders including Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak and BJP state president Bhupendra Chaudhary.
This move underscores a trend within the BSP, where MPs are seeking alternative political affiliations amidst uncertainties surrounding the party’s direction. The recent defection of BSP MP Ritesh Pandey to the BJP sheds light on the growing inclination of BSP MPs towards other parties. This shift is attributed to the BSP’s reluctance to align with the INDIA bloc and the prolonged political inactivity of its leader, Mayawati.
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In his resignation letter to Mayawati, Pandey expressed frustration over the lack of engagement with party leadership, signaling a prevailing sentiment among BSP MPs. With Azad’s potential move to the BJP, four out of ten BSP Lok Sabha MPs have either defected or expressed intentions to do so. Additionally, another two MPs are reportedly exploring options to switch parties. The prospect of Azad joining the BJP gained traction after her recent interactions outside Home Minister Amit Shah’s office during the budget session of Parliament.
Similarly, BSP MP Afzal Ansari from Ghazipur has been nominated by the Samajwadi Party (SP) as its candidate for the upcoming LS polls, further indicating a shift away from the BSP. Danish Ali, BSP MP from Amroha, who was suspended last year, is speculated to join the Congress after participating in the party’s Bharat Jodo Nyaya Yatra.
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Amidst these developments, Mayawati has hinted that MPs defecting to other parties are unlikely to receive tickets, insinuating consequences for their lack of local engagement. However, Girish Chandra, BSP’s floor leader in the Lok Sabha, maintains that personal interests drive such departures and will not impact the party’s objectives of Bahujansamaj welfare. As the political landscape in Uttar Pradesh evolves, the BSP’s challenges underscore its members’ shifting alliances and aspirations, setting the stage for a dynamic electoral contest in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
