New Delhi: After Dara Singh Chauhan, an influential OBC (Other Backward Classes) leader, became the second minister from poll-bound Uttar Pradesh to quit the ruling BJP and the Yogi Adityanath government in less than 48 hours. Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav delighted with happiness tweeted on Wednesday.
“Hearty welcome and greetings to Dara Singh Chauhan ji, the relentless fighter of the struggle for ‘social justice’! The SP and its allies will unite and take the movement of equality and equality to the extreme… Eliminate discrimination! This is our collective resolve!” Mr Yadav wrote.
“Respect everyone – space for everyone!” the former UP Chief Minister tweeted.
With the tweet Mr Yadav attached a photo of himself standing with Mr Chauhan.
Mr Yadav – enjoying himself as the BJP flounders in the face of high-profile exits so close to voting – tweeted yesterday too, when Swami Prasad Maurya, another influential OBC face, quit his party.
“Warm welcome and greetings to the popular leader Swami Prasad Maurya ji, who fought for social justice and equality, and all the other leaders, workers and supporters who came with him (to the) SP! There will be revolution for social justice… There will be change…” he tweeted.
The exits are blowing a hole in the BJP’s OBC leadership before an election where the party’s main challenger is Akhilesh Yadav, and votes from OBC communities are critical.
Mr Yadav has emerged as a major challenger to the BJP’s hopes of re-election.
Uttar Pradesh is a politically crucial state and with a Lok Sabha election due in 2024, results here could play a role in the BJP’s bid for an unprecedented third successive general election win.
The seven-phase Assembly election will begin February 10 and votes will be counted March 10.
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