Beni Prasad Verma, the tallest leader of the Kurmi community, which is the second most dominant OBC caste, and lone member of Congress Working Committee from Uttar Pradesh, is likely to be the Samajwadi party candidate for the Rajya Sabha in July next. A senior journalist of Delhi is also in the race for the Rajya Sabha. On July 4 next 11 members of the Rajya Sabha are retiring and on the basis of its strength in state assembly Samajwadi party can return six members.
"We keep meeting and discuss the current political issues. I met Mulayam Singh few days back. So far Mulayam Singh Yadav has not given any indication for nominating me for the Rajya Sabha. I cannot predict what happens tomorrow’’, the former Union Steel minister Beni Prasad Verma told The Pioneer on Thursday. Beni Prasad Verma is an old associate of Mulayam Singh Yadav and had parted company with him ahead of 2009 lok Sabha elections.
Though Beni Prasad Verma lost the 2014 lok Sabha election from Gonda, the Union home ministry has not withdrawn the security cover provided to him by the Jawans of the CISF.
On the UP Congress drafting Prashant Kishore for the revival of the party in the state Beni Prasad Verma said `` Congress ke liye is se jyadaaa durbhagya purn aur kya ho sakta hai’’ IJ. (What can be more unfortunate than this for the Congress) ``It is indeed most pathetic to see that the grand old party is relying on the services of a green horn and political novice like Prashant Kishore rather than reinventing itself for its revival in UP’’, said Beni Prasad Verma.
The `Ghar Wapsi’ of Beni Prasad Verma to the Samajwadi party would immensely impact the electoral fortunes of the ruling party in at least 10 districts of east and Central UP and also in Bundelkhand where the Kurmis are in sizeable numbers. Samajwadi patty is also desperate to shore up its electoral support base among the Kurmi and other OBCs social groups ahead of the 2017 state assembly elections.
Beni Prasad Verma, over four decade old associate of Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav parted the company with his old friend after 2004 lok Sabha elections. In 2007 UP assembly elections her had floated his own political party. The party drew blank in assembly polls. In 2009 Verma formally joined the Congress and contested the lok Sabha election from Gonda lok Sabha seat.
With the muslims deserting the Samajwadi party, following its electoral tie up with former UP chief minister Kalyan Singh and Kurmis drifting towards the Congress, the grand old party 22 lok Sabha seats winning all seats from 'Faizabad to Moradabad’’.
Beni Prasad Verma, a native of Barabanki, a month ago had praised the Prime Minister Narendrqa Modi, saying `` the NDA government curbed the corruption in the high echelons of the government and overall atmospheres in the country has improved. Verma is feeling marginalized in the party after losing the May 2014 parliament election from Gonda. He is said to be unhappy with the way affairs of the party are being conducted in the state for the last two years. Much to his chagrin, his bête noire and former lok Sabha member from Barabanki Pl Punia was elected to Rajya Sabha with the support of the Samawjadi party in November 2014. Beni had opposed the candidature of Punia on the ground that he was the chairman of the National SC, ST commission.