BJP gets boost as Swami Prasad Maurya joins BJP

BJP's aim to capture power in Uttar Pradesh received a boost ahead of the Assembly polls with Swami Prasad Maurya, an OBC leader in Uttar Pradesh who had recently quit BSP, joining it on Monday.

The four-time MLA joined the saffron party in presence of BJP President Amit Shah here and claimed that if he received ample support from the party's leadership, then it would come to power in the state with a strong majority. The assembly polls are due early next year.

Maurya, who was the Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly before he left BSP in June, said he was impressed with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's work to empower the weaker sections and lashed out at BSP chief Mayawati for turning her party into an "industrial house" and allegedly selling tickets.

His decision to join BJP puts an end to speculation over his next move after he had quit BSP as there were talks that he may join Samajwadi Party and was later approached by other parties as well. 

"I have taken an appropriate decision at an appropriate time," he told a press conference.