New Delhi, Aug. 22 : In a major setback to Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati ahead of the 2017 Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, former Rajya Sabha MP Brijesh Pathak on Monday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Pathak, who joined the BJP in the presence of party chief Amit Shah here, expressed confidence that the saffron party would form the government in Uttar Pradesh next year.
Pathak, who became the second high-profile leader after Swami Prasad Maurya to join the BJP, also lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership.
"The elections will be held in Uttar Pradesh in 2017. And we are of the view that if anyone can save UP from corruption and hooliganism then it is only the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The BJP will form the government in UP next year," said Pathak. "Moreover, I am fully confident that our fellow leaders, who were half-heartedly working some other party for UP will now work forcefully for the betterment of the state through the platform of the BJP as it is the only option left to revive our state," he added.
Meanwhile, Union Minister Mahesh Sharma welcomed Pathak into the BJP and said that he has been a hardworking politician.
"I understand his pain; no person who has self-respect can work under the BSP as their working is not adequate.
That is why Brijesh Pathak ji has joined the BJP for the development of the state," he said. Pathak, who joined the BJP after being expelled from the BSP for "anti-party activities", cited corruption and anarchy in Mayawati-led party as the reason for his decision.
Source: ANI
