Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) led by Mayawati has suffered a setback as all six MLAs of Rajasthan have quit party to join Congress on Monday. y have submitted a letter to state assembly speaker to merge legislative party with Congress.

BSP MLAs quit party to join Congress

six BSP MLAs namely, Rajendra Gudd (Udaipurwati), Jogendra Singh Awana (Nadbai), Wajib Ali, Lakhan Singh Meena (Karoli), Sandeep Yadav (Tijara) and Deepchand Kheria (Kishangarhbas) took Congress membership. 

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MLA Rajendra Gudd from Udaipurwati told ANI that y have taken this decision in order to fight against communal forces and work for development of state. MLA went on to add that y were extremely impressed by Chief Minister of Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot for his style of working.  

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BSP supported Congress in assembly but against m in Lok Sabha

Nadbai MLA Joginder Singh Awana said that BSP had extended its support to Congress in assembly elections but had fought against m in Lok Sabha making it difficult for BSP MLAs.  

“We have given our resignations letter and also met CP Joshi Ji and Ashok Ji today. re were several challenges in front of us. On one hand, we were supporting Congress for development of state and on or, we were fighting against m in Parliamentary or upcoming Panchayat elections. We all gave a thought to it. We took a decision in favour of state," he said and added that y would contest upcoming local bodies and panchayat elections under Congress. 

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Congress had won 100 seats out of 200 in assembly elections last year and was supported by Rashtriya Lok Dal’s (RLD) one MLA, BSP’s six MLAs, and 12 Independent MLAs. In March this year, 12 independent MLAs joined Congress and w addition of six ex-BSP MLAs taking Congress tally to 118, while BJP has 73 seats. 

In 2009, during Ashok Gehlot’s earlier tenure, all six Bahujan Samaj Party legislators had also defected to Congress. That time, government was five short of a clear majority. 

(With ANI inputs)

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