Lucknow: BJP gives ex-BSP MP hero’s welcome

Pathak’s relative and former BSP MLC Arvind Tripathi, who had seated himself with other BJP workers, was also invited by senior leaders to the dais. Tripathi told The Indian Express that he had been present at the programme, but was yet to become a formal member of BJP.

Pathak had joined BJP in Delhi in the presence of party national president Amit Shah and Union Minister Mahesh Sharma. However, no such show of importance was made when former BSP leader Swami Prasad Maurya joined the party. When he had reached the BJP office in Lucknow for the first time, no national leader of the party was present on stage. State BJP president Keshav Prasad Maurya had welcomed Swami Prasad along with other state leaders. At the time, a majority of the crowd at the office comprised of Maurya’s supporters, who had come from BSP. However, for Pathak’s welcome, BJP workers made up a large section of the gathering.

“By welcoming Pathak in the presence of senior Brahmin leaders, the BJP has tried to send a message that only it gives regard to upper castes and BSP only exploited Brahmins,” said a party leader.

Speaking at his welcome ceremony, Pathak called the Samajwadi Party (SP) and BSP ‘kachra’ (garbage) and said that removal of both parties from UP was essential for the state’s progress and bringing BJP to power was the need of the hour. He added that he wanted to contribute to the development mission of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The former BSP MP also said that he was overwhelmed by the warm welcome that BJP workers gave him at various railway stations during his journey from Delhi to Lucknow on Sunday, adding that he would work with dedication to bring BJP to power in UP.

Dinesh Sharma said that Pathak had joined BJP for the “honour of Brahmins”. Mahendra Pandey said he had been struggling since he was a student and youths were excited about him joining the party. Meanwhile, Maurya called BSP supremo Mayawati’s Azamgarh rally a “flop show”, adding that the crowd that had assembled at her previous rally was because of Pathak’s contribution. He said that the two-time MP had joined their party to “finish BJP”.