UP Polls: 2nd UP Cabinet Minister Dara Singh Quits Team Yogi

Mr. Chauhan is to join SP

New Delhi: A major shock for the Uttar Pradesh BJP, as the party lost its second state minister Dara Singh Chauhan. He is the second OBC (Other Backward Class) leader to quit team Yogi just before the Uttar Pradesh election next month.

The fierce attack on BJP has started yesterday when cabinet minister Swami Prasad Maurya resigned from BJP. Moreover, 4 MLAs also quit the UP Govt.

In an official interview of NDTV, Mr. Chauhan answered why he left the party just a month before the election polls, "It cannot be that I say something on one day and then resign the next day. I hoped my voice would be heard sooner or later. But when things came to the point that no one was willing to listen to me, I had to resign."

It a such a storm within the BJP Govt. as it seeks re-election in India's most politically vital state, two ministers and four MLAs have quit so far and are set to join the Samajwadi Party of Akhilesh Yadav.

While resigning Mr. Chauhan wrote his disappointment towards the work of the UP Govt.," I worked with dedication but I am resigning as I am hurt by this government's oppressive attitude towards the backward, deprived sections, Dalits, farmers and unemployed youth and the neglect of quota for the backward and Dalits."

Despite that, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's deputy Keshav Prasad Maurya put out a tweet urging Mr Chauhan to reconsider the move.

"If any family member strays, it is very sad. I can only appeal to the respected leaders who are going, please don't get on a sinking ship or it will be their loss. Big brother Dara Singh, please reconsider your decision," Keshav Maurya wrote.

He had made a similar appeal to Swami Prasad Maurya.

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 backward votes are critical.

Mr. Chauhan is likely following the BSP-BJP-Samajwadi Party circuit like five others before him.