Another SP leader joins BSP

Continuing with its campaign to win over the leaders of the Opposition,the BSP inducted SP leader and Rajya Sabha member Banwari Lal Kanchal a leader of the trader community into its fold on Friday.

While announcing this,Chief Minister Mayawati said: It’s not a case of defection. Kanchal has resigned from the membership of the Rajya Sabha and joined the BSP after affirming his faith in the party’s ideology and policies.

She added Kanchal has not joined the BSP for personal gains but for the welfare of the traders’ community.

When reminded that Kanchal had protested against Mayawati’s birthday celebrations and was also a critic of the BSP government’s decision to introduce VAT,Kanchal said: When I was in the Samajwadi Party,whatever I did was for politics. Now also,I am in the BSP for politics.

Mayawati,intervening quickly,said: Every leader works for expanding the base of his party. So,there was nothing wrong in what Kanchal did while he was in the Samajwadi Party.

A known party-hopper,Kanchal was in the BJP before joining the SP.

The BJP had nominated him to the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council. After the end of his six-year term,he joined the SP which gave him the Rajya Sabha ticket in 2006.

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On Thursday,senior SP member and Moradabad Mayor S T Hasan had also joined the BSP,bringing with him the entire district unit of the party.

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