Massive Setback For Akhilesh Yadav as MP Neeraj Shekhar Resigns From Samajwadi Party; Like to join BJP

In a massive setback for Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party (SP), former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar's son and MP Neeraj Shekhar on Monday tendered his resignation in the Rajya Sabha and the party.

Shekhar was upset with SP Chief Akhilesh Yadav and party leadership. (Image: Twitter)

New Delhi: In a massive setback for Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party (SP), former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar's son and MP Neeraj Shekhar on Monday tendered his resignation in the Rajya Sabha and the party. According to reports, Shekhar is likely to join Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) soon. The former lawmaker sought ticket from Balia, a traditional seat of his family during the Lok Sabha Elections 2019, but SP did not give him the ticket. Reports also suggest that Shekhar was upset with SP Chief and party leadership since then. While tendering his resignation to Rajya Sabha Chairman and country's Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, Shekhar said that he is resigning voluntarily and not under any compulsion. Shekhar was a prominent leader of the Samajwadi Party. He first became a member of the Lok Sabha in 2008 in the by-elections for Ballia constituency. The following year, he won again from the same constituency. Sources to close to development informed that Shekhar will join the saffron squad after meeting PM Narendra Modi soon. Shekhar had been a member of the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh since November 26, 2014 and was due to retire on November 25, 2020. Shekhar had been contesting the Lok Sabha polls from Ballia as a Samajwadi Party leader after his father's death. He lost the 2014 polls and the party sent him to Rajya Sabha. But his demand to contest the 2019 Lok Sabha polls from Ballia had been rejected by SP chief Akhilesh Yadav who fielded Sanatan Pandey instead from there. Though Chandra Shekhar was not in Samajwadi Party, SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav never fielded any candidate against him from Ballia. After Chandra Shekhar death in 2007, Yadav had fielded Neeraj Shekhar from the seat on a Samajwadi Party ticket.