Three rebel SP MLAs join BJP in U.P.

Three rebel MLAs from the Samajwadi Party, formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday (October 14) in Amethi. The induction formalises a split which started in February 2024 during the Rajya Sabha polls, when some MLAs cross-voted in favour of the BJP candidate. The rebel MLAs — Abhay Singh, Rakesh Pratap Singh, and Vinod Chaturvedi — joined the BJP at a function attended by senior BJP leaders including National General Secretary Smriti Irani and U.P. BJP chief Pankaj Chaudhary.

Rakesh Pratap Singh is MLA from Gauriganj Assembly seat under Amethi district, while Abhay Singh is MLA from Goshainganj assembly seat under Ayodhya district, and Vinod Chaturvedi is MLA from Kalpi under Jalaun district.

State BJP president Pankaj Chaudhary was upbeat in his address, “Three new members were inducted at the membership ceremony at Gauriganj in Amethi. The enthusiasm with which people from all walks are joining BJP it is clear that we will form the government for the third time in the State with a huge majority.”

The program was attended by Ms. Irani, Rajya Sabha MP and National President of BJP OBC Morcha Amarpal Maurya, Lok Sabha member from Bulandshahr constituency Bhola Singh, and former Union Minister Shri Sanjeev Balyan, among others.

The SP president Akhilesh Yadav hit out at the turncoats saying people come and go. “Even after years of waiting, they received nothing more than a membership slip. Such people come and go, they will remain there for years but not as candidates, as their membership took years to come,” Mr. Yadav, said in a post on X.