BJP leader joins SP

LUCKNOW: Former minister and BJP’s former MLA from Baberu, Banda Shivshankar Singh Patel, on Wednesday joined the Samajwadi Party (SP). An SP release said Patel was impressed with the leadership of party chief Akhilesh Yadav and joined the party along with his supporters. Speaking on the occasion, Yadav hoped Patel’s decision would help strengthen the SP. Patel’s wife Krishna Patel also joined the SP on the occasion.