BSP man Brijesh Pathak joins BJP

In a major setback to the  Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), ahead of Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, former Rajya Sabha MP and party’s senior leader Brijesh Pathak joined Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday afternoon at the party headquarters in the national Capital.

Party president Amit Shah, and other senior party leaders were present during the event. The top leadership of BJP sees the joining of Pathak as a boosting factor and seems to be confident in formation the government in Uttar Pradesh next year.

Pathak was considered to be the second high-profile leader after Swamy Prasad Maurya in BSP, and in a big blow he also joined BJP in the early of this month. Unlike Maurya, Pathak also lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and his ideology.

Pathak cited “anti-party activities”, “corruption and anarchy” in BSP as reasons behind his decision. However, he was seen in the rally of BSP led by supremo Mayawati in Agra on Sunday. When he was asked question by media on this context, Pathak clarified himself as “being expelled from the BSP.”

“I am fully confident that our fellow leaders, who were half-heartedly working in some other parties will now work forcefully for the betterment of the state through the platform of the BJP as it is the only option left to revive our state,” Pathak said.

“Moreover, And we are of the view that only the BJP under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi can  save the state from corruption and hooliganism. The BJP will form the government in UP next year,” he added.

Meanwhile, Union Minister Mahesh Sharma welcomed Pathak into the BJP and said, “I understand his pain; no person who has self-respect can work under the BSP as their working is not adequate. That is why Brijesh Pathak ji has joined the BJP for the development of the state.”