Lucknow, May 28: In a significant development just days ahead of the final phase of polling, senior Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Narad Rai is poised to switch allegiance to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Rai, who has been associated with the SP for years and was known to be close to the late party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav, made his intentions clear on Monday night through a social media platform. He showered praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, hinting at his impending move.
In a post, Rai hailed PM Modi for bringing accolades to the nation on the global stage and referred to Amit Shah as the "Chanakya of Politics". He emphasized their commitment to uplifting the last person in the queue and their dedication to nationalism.
Accompanying his post was a photograph of his meeting with Amit Shah, further fueling speculation about his switch to the BJP.
Rai's decision to join the BJP comes amidst reports of him feeling marginalized within the SP, particularly after the party shifted its focus towards the Pichda (Backwards) Dalit and Alpasankhyak (Minorities) coalition.
Sources suggest that Rai expressed discontent over not being mentioned by SP national president Akhilesh Yadav during an election rally in Ballia. He criticized the management of the event and lamented the influence of 'new' SP leaders surrounding Akhilesh Yadav.
In his messages, Rai reminisced about the contributions of Mulayam Singh Yadav, senior leader Janeshwar Mishra, and socialist ideologue Ram Manohar Lohia. He quoted Mulayam Singh Yadav's stance on standing up against disrespect.
Reportedly, Rai held meetings with his supporters to gauge their sentiments, with many showing up in large numbers over the past few days.
Narad Rai, who hails from the influential Bhumihar community with a strong presence in the Purvanchal region, is expected to officially join the BJP in the coming days.
