BJP HITS BACK, SAYS SP CHIEF SHOULD INTROSPECT

LUCKNOW: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) hit back at Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday, saying that instead of blaming the BJP for engineering defections and resignations from his party, he should introspect on the reasons leaders gave while quitting the SP.

“This reflects his growing frustration after losing power,” UP minister Brajesh Pathak said while responding to Yadav’s charge that the BJP was engineering defections as it didn’t want to face the people. Pathak, however, said the BJP welcomes all those in the party who want to work in the interest of the country and the society.

Chief minister Yogi Adityanath, deputy chief ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Dinesh Sharma and two minsters Swatantradev Singh and Mohsin Raza have to meet the constitutional requirement of becoming members of either house of UP assembly by September 18. So far, three SP MLCs and one BSP MLC have quit their seats and joined the BJP, thus virtually facilitating entry of four BJP ministers so far. There are reports that one more MLC could quit over the next couple of days to help the BJP.

BJP spokesman Shalabhmani Tripathi also said Yadav should look into the reasons given by the leaders before quitting the SP.

“He should introspect if this is rejection of Yadav’s leadership, instead of blaming the BJP,” Tripathi said.