BJP set to welcome history-sheeter

Sonu and his brother Yashbhadra Singh alias Monu Singh were last in news when,in October 2010,they were named in the murder of a government employee whose wife contested the election for village sarpanch against their candidate. Both are history-sheeters at Kurebhar police station in Sultanpur district.

When contacted,Sonu told The Indian Express,“I had met Rajnathji two weeks back in Delhi. He treats me like a younger brother. I am joining the BJP at the rally on May 16.” Sonu said he has engaged hundreds of four-wheelers and motorbikes in making preparations for the rally.

Sonu said he will not contest the Lok Sabha poll,but only wants to work in the interest of the BJP. “I will contest the Assembly elections if I get the opportunity,” Sonu said.

In the BJP hoardings in Sultanpur,Sonu’s photographs have appeared with BJP’s Sultanpur district president Karuna Shankar Dwivedi and Pravin Agrawal,chairman of the Sultanpur Nagar Palika.

However,Dwivedi said,“I will not say anything and only the party’s senior leaders in state headquarters or Delhi can comment on Sonu’s joining. Everybody knows about the background of Sonu Singh.” Party state general secretary and rally in-charge Ramnath Kovind said he has no information of Sonu’s joining the BJP. Party state president Laxmikant Bajpai could not be reached for comment.

Sonu had contested the 2012 Assembly election from Sultanpur on the ticket of Peace Party after the BSP denied him the ticket. Sonu and his brother Monu,who contested from Isauli as Peace Party nominee,both had lost. Monu is currently head of Dhanpatganj block development committee.

Sonu had earlier won Assembly elections from Isauli in 2007 as SP candidate. In spite of the criminal background,the BSP lured the MLA from SP into its own ranks to create an influence in Sultanpur district where the Congress had a strong presence. Sonu joined the BSP in June 2009 in the presence of then PWD Minister Naseemuddin Siddiqui.

Sonu had then come out on parole from jail where he had been imprisoned in the case of murder of Sant Gyaneshwar,which took place in Allahabad on February 10,2006. Sonu then resigned his Assembly seat from Isauli,contested the by-election as a BSP candidate and again became an MLA.

In September 2010,Sonu came out of jail after the court acquitted him and three others,including Monu,giving benefit of doubt. Earlier,in July 2007,the Gangster Act was invoked against Sonu when a case was lodged against him for kidnapping and forcing one Kripal Singh of Machwara village to transfer his 16 bighas land in his name.