Beni Prasad Verma quits Congress, rejoins SP

Former Union Minister on Friday quit Congress and rejoined Samajwadi Party, a move which is likely to shore up the SP's prospects in the 2017 Assembly polls. The return of 75-year-old Kurmi leader in Uttar Pradesh to the SP fold assumes significance ahead of the Assembly polls as another Kurmi leader –Bihar Chief Minister and JD-U chief Nitish Kumar –is trying to make a dent in the SP votebank.

Kurmi community is the second most dominant OBC caste and a major force to reckon with in the upcoming elections. Beni, who met SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav at his residence here this morning, made the announcement at a hurriedly convened press conference where Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav was present along with some other senior party leaders. “I was feeling suffocated in the Congress for the past two years. I thank Sonia and Rahulji, but I could not adjust myself in the party in the present scenario. I rejoined the party as I could not oppose Akhilesh Yadav in the coming assembly polls. This party (SP) has been formed by me also and I had named it as Samajwadi Party,” Beni said.