In a setback to BJP days ahead of April 10 elections in Gautam Budh Nagar, former Union Minister and senior leader Ashok Pradhan on Tuesday joined Samajwadi Party, claiming that there was “trade” of lok Sabha tickets in the saffron party.
“In BJP there is Kharid-farokth (trade) of lok Sabha tickets. Senior leaders lK Advani, Jaswant Singh and others are ignored and there is resentment in the party, where a number of groups have been formed. They (BJP) do not care for national issues now, but their (BJP leaders) only contention is to grab the power,” Pradhan said while joining the SP in presence of party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav. However, BJP sought to down play the issue of its senior leader Ashok Pradhan joining hands with the Samajwadi Party.