Hours After Resigning From BSP, Bijnor MP Malook Nagar Joins Jayant Chaudhary's RLD

In a letter addressed to BSP supremo Mayawati, which Malook shared publicly, Nagar cited the "current political climate" and "other factors" as reasons for his exit from the party.

Hours after he resigned from Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), MP Malook Nagar joined Jayant Choudhary-led Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) on Thursday. He left BSP after he was denied a ticket from the Bijnor Lok Sabha seat.

Earlier in the day, the Bijnor MP tendered his resignation from the party, expressing possibilities to align with the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD). In a letter addressed to BSP supremo Mayawati, which Malook shared publicly, Nagar cited the "current political climate" and "other factors" as reasons for his exit from the party.

Nagar, contesting on a BSP ticket, had won the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. BSP was then in alliance with the RLD and Samajwadi Party (SP).

"This is the first time in the last 39 years that I am neither contesting the election of MP nor MLA, but I want to work for the country, hence today I have decided to leave the BSP. This is a well thought out decision," he said was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

Expressing optimism, Chaudhary welcomed Nagar to the RLD. He tied a green thread, symbolising farmers and their link to the fields, on his wrist. Chaudhary stated that Nagar would be campaigning for the RLD candidates in western Uttar Pradesh. Nagar will also be strengthening the presence of NDA in the region, Chaudhary said. 

It is to be noted that RLD is part of the BJP-led NDA coalition. Sitting Bijnor MP Malook is not likely to contest election from the constituency as RLD has already fielded Chandan Chauhan from the Bijnor Lok Sabha seat. The seat was allotted to the party in the seat-sharing arrangement with the saffron party earlier.