Akhilesh Blames BJP After 2 Samajwadi Party MLCs Hand in Resignations

Lucknow: Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday accused the BJP of engineering defections after two SP MLCs resigned from the party and the Legislative Council.

Bukkal Nawab and Yashwant Singh had resigned moments after BJP chief Amit Shah’s chartered plane touched down at Lucknow’s Amausi Airport.

“The BJP is behind the resignation of Samajwadi Party MLCs. Bukkal Nawab is an old member of our party. I had also gone to meet him on Eid. What is the reason that he has changed? These are a lot of members who reach the House ahead of time. They do it on purpose; so they can lure some MLCs to their side,” Akhilesh Yadav said.

Sources said Nawab and Singh are likely to join the BJP in the presence of Shah, dealing a blow to the Samajwadi Party whose numbers will now go down in the Legislative Council.

Rumours are also rife of a third MLC, Madhukar Jaitely, leaving the party and the council.

The resignations now pave the way for Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and deputy CMs Keshav Maurya and Dinesh Sharma to enter the Legislative Council.

Bukkal Nawab is considered to be a close aide of SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav and represents the Shia community in the party.

Yashwant Singh, on the other hands, is considered to be close to Raghuraj Pratap Singh, also known as ‘Raja Bhaiya’. Political buzz says Singh, too, may switch sides.

Speaking to ETV, Nawab said, “I have handed in my resignation to Sabhapati Ramesh Yadav. If get an invite from the BJP, I will definitely consider it. All I wish for is Ram Temple construction in Ayodhya. I will donate Rs 10 lakh and a gold mukut (crown) for Ram Lalla. Yashwant Singh has resigned and I hope very soon Madhukar Jaitely ji will also resign.”

Alleging horse-trading, Samajwadi Party leader Naresh Agarwal said “If horse trading continues like this, the level of politics will definitely go down. Things like this should not be backed by any political party.”

Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya said, “We welcome the decision by the Samajwadi Party MLCs and we are confident that we will win the Legislative Assembly as well.”