Lagatar24 Desk
Lucknow, Jan 13: Dharam Singh Saini, a minister in Uttar Pradesh, resigned from the BJP on Thursday, becoming the ninth MLA to do so just days before the state assembly elections.
Dharam Singh Saini had returned the security cover and apartment granted to him by the state government earlier in the day, sparking suspicion that he may leave the BJP.
Dharam Singh Saini is the Minister of State for Ayush, Food Security, and Drug Administration (independent charge).
Over the last few days, the BJP’s Uttar Pradesh unit has seen a string of defections, beginning with cabinet minister Swami Prasad Maurya. Maurya had predicted that many more legislators would follow suit at the time. He said he was resigning due to “gross neglect” towards Dalits, backwards, farmers, unemployed youth and small traders.
The BJP is likely to suffer a setback in the next Assembly elections as a result of the resignations. Between February 10 and March 7, Uttar Pradesh voters will elect 403 MLAs in seven phases. The results of the election will be announced on March 10.
