According to sources, a few more MLAs may follow the powerful OBC leader and resign BJP to join the Samajwadi Party before the Assembly elections next month
Swami Prasad Maurya with Akhilesh Yadav. Photo Twitter
Ahead of the Assembly elections, Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government in Uttar Pradesh received a jolt after state labour minister Swami Prasad Maurya resigned from his post and joined Akhilesh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party.
In his resignation letter, Maurya listed “negligent attitude towards Dalits, backward, farmers, unemployed youth, small and medium businessmen” as reasons behind his decision.
According to reports, a few more MLAs may also resign and join SP with Maurya before the elections.
Maurya had joined BJP in 2016, after quitting Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party. He represented the Padrauna constituency of Uttar Pradesh.
“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,” Swami Prasad Maurya wrote in his resignation letter.
Uttar Pradesh’s Deputy Chief Minister appealed to Maurya to sit and discuss the issues and grievances that he has with the government. “Swami Prasad Maurya ji has resigned for what reasons, I appeal to him to sit and talk. Generally decision taken on haste are not always correct” he said.
Akhilesh Yadav welcomed Maurya, a powerful OBC class leader, with open arms as he joined the Samajwadi Party.
Akhilesh tweeted, “Warm welcome and greetings to the popular leader Swami Prasad Maurya ji and other leaders, workers in the party who fought for social justice and equality! There will be a revolution for social justice, there will be change.”
Meanwhile, home minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath attended a key BJP meeting as the party shortlisted its probable candidates for the initial phases of the state Assembly polls before its Central Election Committee meeting to finalise the names.
Official sources said the party’s campaign, especially in view of the Election Commission’s decision to ban rallies and roadshows due to surging COVID cases till 15 January, also came up for discussion besides various other aspects of its strategy.
With the filing of nomination for the first phase of the seven-phase Uttar Pradesh polls set to begin from January 14, the party’s CEC is likely to meet later this week to finalise the names of candidates, the sources said.
Polls will be held in 58 seats in the first phase on February 10 and in 55 in the second phase on February 14, and the BJP is likely to announce the names of most of its candidates for these constituencies soon.
With inputs from PTI
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