Phoolan Devi’s sister joins SP

LUCKNOW: Rukmini Devi Nishad, sister of late bandit-turned-politician Phoolan Devi, and four-time Azamgarh MP Ramakant Yadav joined the Samajwadi Party (SP) on Sunday in the presence of party president Akhilesh Yadav.

Rukmini Devi Nishad left the Pragatisheel Manav Party, a minor outfit, to join the SP.

After joining the SP, Rukmini Devi Nishad said, “I am leaving behind Pragatisheel Manav Party and it feels like coming home.” Devi belongs to the boatmen’s (Nishad) community which is in the other backward castes (OBCS) category and has substantial numbers in several pockets in Uttar Pradesh. The SP hopes to leverage her presence in the party to target the community’s votes.

Ramakant Yadav returned to SP after he was expelled by the Congress over “anti-party” activities on Thursday.

Welcoming the two into the party fold, the SP chief said, “The way leaders from other parties are joining the SP, it is quite apparent that the party will be able to oust the BJP from UP in 2022 UP assembly polls.”

about the seatsharing talks with the Shiv Sena, the party’s focus on national issues versus regional concerns, and the impact of Maratha reservation. Edited excerpts:

Shiv Sena is among the oldest allies of the BJP but seat-sharing talks between the two always seem to be acrimonious, and then there are several other points of disagreement. Are the two parties coming together only for political gains?

During discussions over seatsharing between the BJP and the Shiv Sena, there was no statement from the leadership on either side that shows there was any disagreement or stress. The talks were conducted