Sources say that she is seeking a ticket from Lucknow Cantt assembly seat, however, the BJP leadership has clarified that there is no pre-condition for joining.
NEW DELHI:
In what can be seen as a major jolt to Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party before the upcoming Uttar Pradesh assembly polls, Mulayam Singh Yadav’s daughter-in-law, Aparna Yadav, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), January 19.
She joined the saffron party in presence of Uttar Pradesh state unit president Swatantra Dev Singh, deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, BJP media department head Anil Baluni, at the party headquarters.
Welcoming Aparna into the party, Singh said that Mulayam Singh Yadav’s “Bahu” (daughter-in-law) is joining BJP and she will work to strengthen the party.
Deputy chief minister Maurya said, “Despite being Mulayam Singh Yadav’s daughter-in-law, she always spoke in favour of BJP’s work.
Taking a dig at Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Maurya said, “Akhilesh was unsuccessful in managing family – both as chief minister and as a Member of Parliament. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and my name were announced in the first list of BJP candidates. Akhilesh, who always tried to take credit for BJP government’s work, have no courage to contest assembly polls from anywhere in the Uttar Pradesh.”
Thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief minister Yogi for giving her the opportunity to join the BJP, Aparna said, “I have always been influenced by the Prime Minister and spoke about Swachh Bharat Mission and the work he has done to empower women. For me, nation is the priority and now I have embarked on a journey on the path of nation-building.”
Sources say that she is seeking a ticket from the Lucknow Cantt assembly seat, however, the BJP leadership has clarified that there is no pre-condition for joining.
Aparna, wife of Mulayam Singh Yadav’s son Pratik Yadav, had unsuccessfully contested the 2017 polls against BJP’s Rita Bahuguna Joshi from Lucknow Cantt. BJP Lok Sabha member from Allahabad, Joshi, meanwhile, offered to resign from parliament if the party is ready to give ticket to her son Mayank Joshi in the upcoming polls.
The Uttar Pradesh assembly polls will be held in seven phases in February-March starting from February 10. Counting of votes will be held on March 10. IANS