Sacked SP minister joins BSP, to contest from Ballia

Ballia (Uttar Pradesh) [India], Jan. 29 : Former Samajwadi Party minister Narad Rai, who was sacked by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav following tit-for-tat expulsions of his loyalists from the party, on Sunday joined the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).

The minister will be contesting from Ballia Nagar constituency. Expressing disappointment over the 'insult' with which SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav has been dealt, Rai said, "The major reason to quit SP is Netaji's insult.

When Netaji is being insulted, there remains no reason to stay in the party." Narad Rai's sacking was cited as a tit-for-tat with regard to expulsion of Akhilesh's loyalists from the party.

Pawan Pandey, an Akhilesh loyalist, was sacked for his alleged assault on Aashu Malik, a Mulayam loyalist.

He was later denied party ticket from his assembly seat Ayodhya..

Source: ANI