UP Election 2022: OBC exodus from BJP, 2 rebel ministers and several MLAs join SP

Two former ministers in the Yogi Adityanath government, Swami Prasad Maurya and Dharam Singh Saini, and a number of rebel MLAs on Friday formally joined the Samajwadi Party.

At least a dozen rebel BJP MLAs, including three ministers, have quit the party in a matter of days. The massive OBC exodus from the ruling party has come just a month before the Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections.

The OBC revolt against the Yogi government was triggered by powerful Backward leader Swami Prasad Maurya who quit the Cabinet citing injustice to Dalits and OBCs.

After Maurya's exit, two more ministers and 9 MLAs turned against the BJP on thee powerful Backward Castes leader's cue and joined the SP ranks.

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After joining the SP, Maurya declared that it was the beginning of the BJP's end in the state. He accused the BJP of neglecting the Dalits and OBCs over the last five years.

Maurya, who is a 5-time MLA with influence in the eastern and central region of Uttar Pradesh, declared that there is a "tsunami against the BJP in UP and it will be decimated".

The former labour minister also said that ministers, lawmakers and leaders who resigned from the BJP and were loyal to him were introduced to Yadav on Thursday. A discussion was held on the strategy, campaign and fielding of candidates, Maurya added.