Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has tweeted a picture with Chauhan, sparking speculations of the latter joining the SP
Followed by Dara Singh’s exit from BJP, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav shared a photo with him. Twitter@yadavakhilesh
In another dramatic development in Uttar Pradesh politics ahead of February’s Assembly elections, Dara Singh Chauhan, another minister of the Yogi Adityanath government, quit the BJP.
Chauhan, a prominent OBC face in Uttar Pradesh, quit the saffron party on the heels of the high-profile exit of another long-time OBC leader Swami Prasad Maurya.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has tweeted a picture with Chauhan, much like he did with Maruya yesterday, sparking speculation of OBC leader joining the SP.
Chauhan said in an interview to CNN News 18, “People of Dalit community extended their support to BJP to form a government but they were neglected, hurt by which, I tendered my resignation.”
As per PTI, at least three other MLAs have already announced that they are leaving the party
Chauhan held the Forest and Environment portfolio. Asked whether he will be join the Samajwadi Party, Chauhan said he would consult his supporters before the future course of action.
“Dalits, backwards and the deprived did not get justice in the present government. That’s why I am quitting the cabinet,” he told reporters.
According to a report by ANI, in his letter to the governor, Chauhan said in Hindi, “Due to the neglect of the state government towards the backward section of the society, Dalits, farmers and unemployed youth of the state and the neglect of reservation of the Dalits and backward class in the society, I have been hurt and I resign from the cabinet.”
Swami Prasad Maurya, who recently quit the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet, will join the Samajwadi Party on 14 January.
In a conversation with ANI, Swami Prasad Maurya said, “I will be joining the Samajwadi Party on 14 January. I have not received calls from any small or big politician. If they were cautious on time and worked on public issues, then BJP would not have faced this.”
He further said, “Whether the BJP leaders are big or small in power and position, it doesn’t matter to me as the arrow has come out of the bow. Now, there is no question of returning.”
Slamming the Central government, Maurya said that the farmers were “on the roads” for one year. “The government decided to withdraw the farm laws only when they saw their grassroots slipping out of their control,” he said.
“Under BJP’s rule here, the poor people are not getting the benefit of reservation, all the vacancies are vacant. The state government is giving everything in hands of private firms. The capitalists are getting encouragement. How can the government shy away from its responsibilities?” he said.
On Tuesday, Maurya, who resigned as minister in Yogi Adityanath government giving a jolt to the BJP ahead of the assembly polls in the state, said that he will decide his next course of action after consulting his supporters.
“I have resigned from the Yogi cabinet keeping in mind the government’s attitude towards Dalits, backward classes, farmers, youth, and traders. I have sent the letter to the Governor. I will consult with my supporters for a day or two, I will tell the number of people joining along with me after two days,” Maurya told reporters on Tuesday.
In his letter to Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel, Maurya, who held portfolios of labour and social welfare, said he was resigning due to the state government “ignoring interests” of Dalits, backward sections, farmers, unemployed youth and small traders.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said in a tweet that he welcomed Maurya to the party.
“I welcome Swami Prasad Maurya, who struggled for social justice and equality in the state, and his supporters to the Samajwadi Party. There will be a revolution for social justice, there will be a change in 2022,” Yadav said.
In the 2017 Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, the Bharatiya Janata Party bagged 312 seats out of the 403-seat Uttar Pradesh Assembly while Samajwadi Party (SP) bagged 47 seats, Bahujan Samajwadi Party (BSP) won 19 and Congress could manage to win only seven seats. The rest of the seats were bagged by other candidates. (ANI)
As per PTI, at least three other MLAs have already announced that they are leaving the party.
Elections for the 403-member Uttar Pradesh Assembly will be held in seven phases. The polling will be held on 10, 14, 20, 23, 27 February, and, 3 and 7 March in seven phases.
The polling in Punjab, Uttarakhand, and Goa will be held on 14 February and in Manipur in two phases on 27 February and 6 March. The counting of votes will take place on 10 March.
With inputs from agencies
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