One more SP legislator joins BSP

However,apprehending threat to his membership of the assembly under the anti-defection act,Beg is in denial mode and is reluctant to speak in categorical terms whether he has switched to the ruling BSP. Wife of the SP MLA,who is an elected member of the district panchayat,and other family members had joined the BSP on July 10.

The police in Bareilly district in December last had slapped several cases against the SP MLA relating to recovery of stolen trucks from his farm house at Padhera under Shergarh police station. The UP Power corporation had also lodged an FIR against the MLA accusing him of power theft.

Asked about his current status,Beg said, “I am member of the state assembly and party affiliation has no meaning.” He admitted that he was present at the meeting where PWD Minister Naseemuddin Siddiqui announced his appointment as in-charge of BSP in Mirganj assembly constituency. “But the question should be addressed to Siddiqui as to under what circumstances he announced my name as in-charge of the Mirganj constituency,” Beg said. However,he agreed that “as per the established practice in the BSP,its candidate is first appointed in-charge of his constituency”.

The MLA said Siddiqui was present at the meeting as a UP minister and not a BSP leader. “I attended the meeting as a local MLA,” he said.

On pending criminal cases against him,Beg said, “The Allahabad High Court has granted me bail in the case related to recovery of stolen trucks from my farm house. In power theft case too the issue has been settled as I have deposited the dues along with fine.”

Other SP MLAs who switched sides to BSP since May 2007 are Vijay Singh,Naresh Agarwal,Chandra Bhadra Singh,Mahendra Singh Rajput ,Dashrath Singh Chauhan,Kazim Ali,Dhaniram Verma,and late Gauri Shanker.