Cong, SP MLAs join BJP in UP
A day after Swami Prasad Maurya quit the Yogi Adityanath Cabinet, another OBC stalwart and Forest Minister Dara Singh Chauhan tendered his resignation citing alleged oppressive attitude of the BJP Government towards the backward and Dalits.
“I worked with dedication but I am resigning as I am hurt by this Government’s oppressive attitude towards the backward, deprived sections, Dalits, farmers and unemployed youth and the neglect of quota for the backward and Dalits,” Chauhan wrote in his resignation letter, using almost the same language as Maurya, who was Labour Minister in UP.
Meanwhile, bucking the trend of BJP MLAs and Ministers quitting the party, Congress MLA Naresh Saini and Samajwadi Party MLA Hari Om Saini on Wednesday joined the BJP here at the party headquarters.
As expected, Chauhan is likely to join the Samajwadi Party, the indication of which was given by Akhilesh Yadav, who tweeted a picture with Chauhan saying “party will welcome those who determined to restore the pride of Dalits and backward.”
Later in a statement, Chauhan said in the last five years Dalits, backward and unemployed faced the brunt of the Government.
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Another OBC stalwart quits Yogi Cabinet
“I tried to raise my voice against the exploitation of backward but I was ignored. Even the party high command did not listen to me. For the last five years, I was praying for my mukti and today I am happy that I am out of that bondage,” he said.
Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya put out a tweet urging Chauhan to reconsider the move. “If any family member strays, it is very sad. I can only appeal to the respected leaders who are going, please don’t get on a sinking ship or it will be their loss. Big brother Dara Singh, please reconsider your decision,” Keshav wrote.
These resignations have given a big dent to BJP’s OBC leadership before an election where the party’s main challenger is Akhilesh and backward votes are critical.
Chauhan, who is from eastern UP, joined the BJP in 2015 after quitting Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). He was a BSP MP from 2009 to 2014. When he joined the BJP, he was made the national president of the party’s OBC unit.
The resignations began on Tuesday with Maurya delivering the first blow. Four MLAs followed - Roshan Lal Verma, Brijesh Prajapati, Bhagwati Sagar, and Vinay Shakya.
All of them are likely to join Samajwadi Party on January 14 as Maurya had claimed that he will make a decision after meeting his supporters. “Wait till January 14 and you will know how many people are joining with me,” Maurya said.