BJP MP Rita Bahuguna Joshi’s son joins Samajwadi Party
LUCKNOW: Ahead of the seventh and last phase of UP assembly elections, Mayank Joshi, son of BJP MP Rita Bahuguna Joshi, joined the Samajwadi Party at SP chief Akhilesh’s Yadav’s poll rally in Azamgarh on Saturday.
“Mayank Joshi has joined the SP today,” Akhilesh said while addressing a rally and holding up Mayank’s hand.
The SP later tweeted a picture of Akhilesh and Mayank at the rally with the announcement: “The young leader and grandson of former UP chief minister Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna, Shri Mayank Joshi took membership of SP in presence of Akhilesh Yadav in Azamgarh today. You are welcome, and thank you.”
A Congress leader, Arshad Azmi, too, joined the SP at the rally. Mayak had met Akhilesh in Lucknow on February 22, a day before the fourth phase polling, which included Lucknow.
Rita Joshi’s media in charge, Abhishek Shukla said in a statement: “Prof Rita Bahuguna Joshi has refused to make any comments. She is currently in Tripura attending a parliamentary committee meeting. She, however, said that she will stay in the BJP and has expressed full faith and solidarity with BJP’s national leadership.”
In January, Rita had sought a ticket from BJP for her son to contest the assembly elections from Lucknow Cantonment seat. Rita had also said she would give up her Lok Sabha membership if her son got the ticket from the seat.
But after her son was denied a ticket, she said she “respects the decision of the party.”
Rita Joshi is sitting BJP MP from Prayagraj. She had won the 2017 and 2012 assembly elections from Lucknow Cantt seat. She had quit the seat on becoming Prayagraj MP in 2019.