World · India Bureau
Three Samajwadi Party MLAs defect to BJP ahead of UP polls
Political activity intensifies in Uttar Pradesh as three legislators abandon the Samajwadi Party to join the BJP, dealing a blow to Akhilesh Yadav's party ahead of state assembly elections.
LSN India ·
Three Samajwadi Party legislators defected to the Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday, marking a significant political shift in Uttar Pradesh as the state gears up for assembly elections. Abhay Singh, Rakesh Pratap Singh, and Vinod Chaturvedi switched allegiances, joining the saffron party in a ceremony attended by senior BJP leaders Smriti Irani and Pankaj Chaudhary.
The defections underscore mounting political turbulence in the state as rival parties intensify efforts to strengthen their positions ahead of the crucial electoral contest. The departures represent a setback for Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, who has been working to consolidate support among his legislative contingent.
The BJP has accelerated recruitment efforts across the state, targeting opposition lawmakers in a bid to bolster its numbers and weaken rival parties. The defections reflect broader patterns of political realignment occurring across Uttar Pradesh in the run-up to polling.