In a major development, Samajwadi Party (SP) founder Mulayam Singh Yadav's daughter-in-law Aparna Yadav on Wednesday joined Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the upcoming Uttar Pradesh elections. Speculations were high that Mulayam Singh Yadav's daughter-in-law Aparna Yadav will join hands with the ruling-BJP and finally on Wednesday at the party's headquarter in Delhi she was formally welcomed. Aparna was formally inducted into the party in the presence of UP deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya & BJP State president Swatantra Dev Singh.
After she was inducted into the party, Aparna expressed her admiration for PM Modi in her address and expressed her gratitude to the party adding that for her 'nation always comes first'. "I am very thankful to BJP. The nation always comes first for me. I admire PM Modi's work, " said Aparna Yadav after joining BJP.
Aparna Yadav to contest from Lucknow Cantt for UP Elections 2022?
As per news agency IANS, Aparna Yadav has expressed her desire to contest the 2022 UP Polls from Lucknow Cantt Assembly seat, however, the BJP leadership has clarified that there will be no pre-condition for joining.
"Aparna has contested the 2017 Assembly polls from Lucknow Cantt Assembly constituency and this time also she has expressed her desire to contest from the same seat. However, the BJP leadership has clarified that there will be no pre-condition and Aparna ticket will be decided like any other only on the criteria of winnability," a senior BJP leader said as reported by IANS.
Aparna, wife of Mulayam Singh Yadav's son Pratik Yadav, step-brother of Akhilesh Yadav, had unsuccessfully contested the 2017 polls against BJP's Rita Bahuguna Joshi from Lucknow Cantt.
UP Election 2022
The ruling BJP has announced that it will contest the UP Polls with allies Nishad Party and Apna Dal (S) under the leadership of CM Yogi Adityanath. On the other hand,
Samajwadi Party (SP) has refused to ally with big parties like Congress or BSP, opting to ally with smaller parties like Mahan Dal, NCP, SBSP, RLD, PSPL and has kept its doors open for AIMIM, AAP. BSP chief Mayawati has already announced that her party will fight polls alone in UP and Uttarakhand, while allying only with Akali Dal in Punjab. Congress has campaigned under the leadership of Priyanka Gandhi in the state, eyeing its solo return. AIMIM has announced it will contest on 100 seats. The 403-seat UP assembly where Yogi Adityanath-led BJP rules with a majority of 314 seats, is up for grabs in a 7-phase election from February 10 to March 7. Results will be announced on March 10.