Delhi: Former Bahujan Samaj Party leader and Padrauna MLA Swami Prasad Maurya on Monday formally joined BJP, along with his supporters, including several former party leaders.
Maurya, a former BSP general secretary, and several others were inducted into the party in the presence of BJP chief Amit Shah.
Speaking on the occasion, Maurya said that he will work to strengthen the party's OBC base across the state.
Former Bahujan Samaj Party leader Swami Prasad Maurya joins BJP, in presence of BJP Chief Amit Shah pic.twitter.com/Vylp6h9cLQ
— ANI (@ANI_news) August 8, 2016
Maurya had left Mayawati's party on June 22, accusing party chief of selling poll tickets and deceiving Dalits.
Maurya, who was the Leader of Opposition in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly when he announced his resignation, was regarded as the OBC face of BSP.
Maurya arrived in the national capital this morning to join the BJP.
Besides Maurya, a few former BSP leaders, including Shivpur MLA Udai Lal and former MLCs and MLAs have also joined the party.
Maurya’s entry into BJP could help the party woo the Kushwaha-Maurya castes of western UP — one of the largest OBC groups in the state.
In an apparent attempt to reach out to the caste group, the BJP had earlier appointed Phulpur MP Keshav Prasad Maurya as its state party president.
Besides bolstering BJP’s OBC base, Maurya, who practices Buddhism, could also help the party reach out to disgruntled BSP supporters.
