Another rebel MLA quits SP, rejoins BSP

Lucknow, Mar 2 (UNI) Yet another of the 40 rebel MLAs quit the ruling Samajwadi Party today and announced his decision to rejoin the BSP, from which he had defected in 2003.

A member of State Assembly from Machrehata seat of Sitapur district, Ram Krishna, who heads the UP Development Systems Corporation (UPDESCO) in the Mulayam Singh Yadav-led government, resigned from the post and announced he was rejoining the BSP.

With this, the number of rebel MLAs who have quit the ruling party and rejoined the BSP has gone up to five.

Yesterday, four MLAs including two ministers -- Surendra Vikram Singh and Jaiveer Singh -- besides Dharam Pal Singh heading UP State Poultry and Livestock Corporation and Ramji Shukla had also resigned from the SP and announced their decision to rejoin the BSP.

Mr Krishna met state Governor T V Rajeswar and handed him his resignation and expressed his willingness to rejoin the BSP. Mr Krishna said he was rejoining his old party following the 2-1 verdict of the Allahabad High Court in the rebel MLA case on February 28 last.

UNI MB/SB ARS PA DS1126