New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh MLA Chaudhary Amar Singh of the Apna Dal became the latest legislator to quit the BJP-led alliance in the poll-bound state on Thursday.
Singh is the eleventh MLA, including three ministers, to quit team Yogi Adityanath in a space of three days. Last month, three more MLAs -- Madhuri Verma, Rakesh Rathore and Jai Chaubey -- left the BJP, taking the overall count to 14.
Speaking to ANI, Chaudhary Amar Singh said he would join Samajwadi Party soon. "This government is a liar... no development has been done. I met Akhilesh Yadav today, will join him. Soon more people will join us," ANI quoted Singh as saying.
Earlier in the day, UP minister and backward caste leader Dharam Singh Saini and three other MLAs resigned from BJP as the exodus of legislators continued from the saffron party.
Here Is A List Of MLAs Who Quit The BJP-Led Alliance In Uttar Pradesh:
1) Swami Prasad Maurya
Labour minister and OBC leader Swami Prasad Maurya quit the Yogi Adityanath Cabinet on Tuesday, leading to a spree of resignations in Uttar Pradesh BJP. In his resignation letter, Swami Prasad Maurya said that he was upset at the sidelining of Dalits and weaker sections of society. Swami Prasad Maurya, once one of the senior-most leader in the Bahujan Samaj Party, had joined the BJP just before the 2017 Assembly election.
2) Dara Singh Chauhan
Dara Singh Chauhan, minister for environment and forests in the Adityanath government, quit on Wednesday, alleging the BJP government's "oppressive attitude towards the backward, deprived sections, Dalits, farmers and unemployed youth". After quitting BSP in 2017, he joined BJP and became an MLA from Madhuban seat in Mau district.
3) Dharam Singh Saini
Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Ayush, Food Security and Drug Administration Dharam Singh Saini became the third minister to quit the council of ministers on Thursday. Saini, who represented the Nakud Assembly seat, said he was quitting due to "gross neglect" towards Dalits, backwards, farmers, unemployed youth and small traders.
4) Mukesh Verma
Mukesh Verma, BJP MLA from Shikohabad assembly in Firozabad, also resigned on Thursday. Verma wrote in his resignation letter that leaders from minority communities in BJP were not given any attention. Verma also stated that he would now work under the leadership of Swami Prasad Maurya.
5) Roshan Lal Verma
Roshan Lal Verma, coming from Lodhi community, joined BJP from BSP on September 12, 2016. He was an MLA from Tilhar in Shahjahanpur for three consecutive terms. He resigned from the BJP on Tuesday.
6) Brijesh Prajapati
Brijesh Prajapati, who belongs to the Kumhar community, and is an MLA from Tindwari in Banda district also quit the BJP. He is said to be a relative of Swami Prasad Maurya. He was also a member of the Backward Classes Commission in the BSP government. Brijesh Prajapati joined BJP after Maurya joined the saffron party in 2016.
7) Bhagwati Prasad Sagar
Bhagwati Prasad Sagar, an MLA from Bilhaur in Kanpur, has also resigned from the BJP. He is a former minister and a four-time MLA. He comes from the SC community and has also been an MLA from Jhansi district. Bhagwati Prasad joined BJP from BSP in 2016.
8) Vinay Shakya
Vinay Shakya, MLA from Bidhuna in Auraiya, also resigned after Swami Prasad Maurya quit the BJP.
9) Avtar Singh Bhadana
Avtar Singh Bhadana quit the BJP and has joined the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD). Bhadana had contested elections from Meerapur assembly seat in Meerut in the 2017 state election.
10) RK Sharma
RK Sharma, former BJP MLA from Bilsi (Badaun), joined the Samajwadi Party earlier this week.
11) Chaudhary Amar Singh
Chaudhary Amar Singh of the Apna Dal also quit the BJP-led alliance in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday. "This government is a liar... no development has been done," he told reporters.