After putting in his papers to quit as Uttar Pradesh Bharatiya Janata Party chief, cabinet minister Swatantra Dev Singh on Wednesday tendered his resignation from the post of leader of the House in the YO Legislative Council.
Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya has assumed his position as the new leader of the Upper House.
UP Legislative Council Chairman KM Singh confirmed, "UP BJP chief and cabinet minister Swatantra Dev Singh resigned as leader of the House in the UP Legislative Council. He resigned due to his engagements. Keshav Prasad Maurya has been made the leader of the House in the UP Legislative Council."
Swatantra Dev Singh had tendered his resignation last month as state BJP’s UP unit chief after his tenure expired on July 16 but BJP national president JP Nadda is yet to accept his resignation.
Sources said that these developments have come in the wake of Dinesh Khatik's resignation from the Jal Shakti department, accusing the government of ignoring him because of his Dalit credentials.
Khatik, however, returned to the department after receiving assurances from Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
Earlier on May 19, the UP BJP had decided to nominate Swatantra Dev Singh as the leader of the Upper House in the Council for his tremendous efforts in leading the party's comeback to power after the UP Assembly elections.
Keshav Prasad Maurya was credited for his efforts too and made deputy chief minister despite losing the election to Samajwadi Party's Pallavi Patel in Sirathu. He was sent to the UP Legislative Council to continue as deputy chief minister.