Lucknow: Senior Samajwadi Party leader and close confidant of SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, Ambika Chaudhary joined the Bahujan Samaj Party today. Mr Ambika joined the BSP in presence of party supremo Mayawati, just after she ended her press conference in the state capital. Welcoming Mr Chaudhary in the party, Ms Mayawati, said that he would be given more respect and power in the party, than he was given in SP. She also announced that the SP MLC would be fielded from Fefna Assembly seat in Ballia district, a traditional seat of Mr Chaudhary.
In the 2012 Assembly elections, Mr Chaudhary lost from Fefna seat against BJP nominee and thereafter, he was made the MLC and Minister in Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav's Cabinet. But later, he was sacked from the ministry and during the current fight within the SP, Mr Chaudhary took the side of Mr Mulayam and Mr Shivpal and had regularly attended the meeting of the camp. Mr Chaudhary's decision shows that the fight within the first SP family is yet to die off. Mr Ambika, who wished Ms Mayawati with a bouquet, said, "I am thankful to Behanji and have resigned from the primary membership of SP.
I have joined the BSP to fight against the communal forces." On a question over whether other SP leaders will follow suit, he said, "Don't know what other leaders will do". Earlier, when asked whether the party will admit Shivpal, if he wishes to contest the polls from SP, Ms Mayawati had said "This will depend only when Shivpal comes with such offer." However, she had expressed her sympathy towards Shivpal, saying that he was made the scapegoat in the fight between the father and son.
Mr Ambika claimed the situation turned ugly in SP from September 13 last and the political condition was very fluid now. "SP had failed to fulfill its responsibility to counter the communal forces and after EC's decision on January 16, their conspiracy had come to the fore. "I am grateful to Mayawati for including me in the party," the former SP leader said, while commenting that the behaviour of Akhilesh against his father was condemnable. 'I'm too furious on the way a son hijacked the party," he added. (UNI)