The BJP in Uttar Pradesh is suffering the worst possible setback ahead of the Assembly elections in the state.
Another top BJP leader – third minister in the Yogi Adityanath government – has resigned and joined the Samajwadi Party (SP).
“I welcome him to the Samajwadi Party,” SP chief Akhilesh Yadav said.
Uttar Pradesh minister Dharam Singh Saini, on Thursday, resigned as a minister and quit the BJP.
Saini is the ninth Uttar Pradesh legislator to snap ties with the BJP, just days ahead of the crucial elections in the state.
Also read: UP: Another setback for BJP, one more MLA quits party
Dharam Singh Saini was the minister of state (independent charge), Ayush, Food Security and Drug Administration in the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh.
“I have resigned because, for five years the dalits and backward classes were suppressed, their voices were suppressed. One minister and 3-4 MLAs will resign every day till January 20,” said Dharam Singh Saini
The BJP in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh is witnessing large-scale defection of its leaders, workers, MLAs and ministers.
Earlier on Thursday, Mukesh Varma, the legislator from Shikohabad in Firozabad, also resigned from the saffron party.
Varma alleged that the Yogi Adityanath government, in the past five years, has failed to address the problems of weaker sections, youths, farmers, Dalits and OBCs.