New Delhi: Former Uttar Pradesh ministers Swami Prasad Maurya and Dharam Singh Saini - who resigned this week from the Yogi Adityanath government and the ruling BJP just weeks before Assembly polls - today joined the Samajwadi Party in the presence of opposition leader Akhilesh Yadav.
Also joining the Samajwadi Party were MLAs Vinay Shakya and Bhagwati Sagar.
Uttar Pradesh MLA Chaudhary Amar Singh of the Apna Dal Thursday quit the BJP-led alliance just weeks ahead of polls - this is the eleventh resignation for Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in three days. Akhilesh Yadav, who has emerged as the key challenger in UP, has yet again benefitted.
In the latest blow to the BJP ahead of Assembly elections, minister and OBC leader Dharam Singh Saini resigned on Thursday from the state cabinet. Mr Saini, a four-time legislator from Nakud in Saharanpur, is the third state minister to step down in past three days with the ruling party in what is being seen as a crucial swing ahead of a crucial election.
Seven other BJP MLAs and one from Apna Dal, which is in alliance with the BJP, have also exited the party in the last three days.
The Congress has fielded the mother of 2017 Unnao rape victim as its candidate for next month's assembly election in Uttar Pradesh. Asha Singh, the Unnao victim's mother, was among those who were named in the list released by the party today.
"Our list sends a new message that if you have been a victim of harassment and torture, the Congress will support you," said Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, as she released the list.
Swami Prasad Maurya, whose resignation from Yogi Adityanath's cabinet has set off a flurry of exits, Wednesday said he "hasn't quit the BJP or joined the Samajwadi Party" yet.
"I have only quit as a minister. I will quit the BJP soon. For now, I am not joining the Samajwadi Party," Swami Prasad Maurya told NDTV, teasing a big reveal today.
"I have rejected the BJP...there is no question of going back," he qualified in the same breath.
Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Manipur, Punjab, and Uttarakhand will vote over seven phases starting February 10, with counting of votes scheduled for March 10.
Here are the Highlights on Assembly Election 2022:
Jan 14, 2022 22:10 (IST)
On Saturday, the Election Comission will decide if the ban on rallies will continue.
Jan 14, 2022 21:00 (IST)
On Uttarakhand Candidate List, Congress Leader's Reply
Congress's Harish Rawat today told news agency ANI: "Discussion was held on 70 seats and almost all names have been finalised based on merits of the candidates. Tomorrow we'll present the names before Central Election Committee (CEC)". The state will vote on February 14; results will be out on March 10.
Jan 14, 2022 20:34 (IST)
Samajwadi Party MLA from Kairana assembly constituency Nahid Hasan on Friday became the first candidate to file his nomination papers for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls.
Jan 14, 2022 20:20 (IST)
AAP's Arvind Kejriwal will be in Goa on Saturday and Sunday. The coastal state votes on February 14.
Jan 14, 2022 20:17 (IST)
Case Against Akhilesh Yadav's Party In Lucknow
On Election Commission's direction, an FIR has been filed over overcrowding after a rally was held in Lucnkow by Akhilesh Yadav's party.
Jan 14, 2022 19:00 (IST)
Uttarakhand Polls: AAP Releases Its 3rd List Of Candidates
In Uttarakhand, the AAP has put out the third list of candidates - Prakash Kumar (Purola), Uttam Bhandari (Devprayag), Bharat Singh (Sahaspur), Shyam Bora (Mussoorie), Raju Viratiya (Jhabrera), Diwan Singh Mehta (Didihat), Chandrashekar Pandey (Lalkuan), Anand Singh Rana (Nanakmatta) and SS Kaler (Khatima).
Jan 14, 2022 18:52 (IST)
What UP Minister Said On Spate Of Resignatons Ahead Of Polls
"There are several reasons for these MLAs to leave BJP; some are going for their personal benefit; others fear they won't get the ticket from the constituency of their own choice...They took benefits while remaining in the government in last five years," UP Minister said today on several leaders qutting the Yogi Adityanath government this week.
Jan 14, 2022 15:38 (IST)
Akali Dal's Appeal To Election Commission On Ban On Rallies
Akali Dal today appealed to the Election Commission - ahead of the Punjab Elections - to reconsider the ban on rallies announced last week amid Covid surge.
