Cong, BJP MLAs join ruling SP in UP

Lucknow, July 17 (UNI) The ruling Samajwadi Party today received a shot in its arm when two sitting MLAs from Moradabad, one each of Congress and BJP, joined the party here.

BJP MLA from Moradabad (City) Sandeep Agarwal and Congress MLA of Moradabad (Dehat) Samimul Haq joined the SP in presence of party general secretary and state PWD minister Shivpal Singh Yadav.

The MLAs, however, said they were yet to resign from the assembly and would do so, if the SP wanted.

Both MLAs had cross-voted in favour of SP candidates in the last Rajya Sabha elections held on March 28 last.

Although the MLAs maintained that the Mulayam Singh Yadav regime had brought about development in UP, they attributed their joining the SP to ill-treatment by their respective parent parties.

Mr Agarwal, a three-time BJP MLA, said even after several assurances by the BJP leadership, no development work had taken in Moradabad, while SP has given enough funds for the same. Nephew of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) president Ashok Singhal, the BJP MLA said no BJP leaders came to express their grievances when his mother died some years back.

Congress MLA Mr Haq said he needed Rs 10 lakh for medical treatment, but no Congress leader was ready to help him out. ''I just once asked the CM to help me and he immediately gave me the amount,'' he added.

''I am grateful to the CM as now I am living a normal life and have joined the party which espouses the cause of humanity,'' the Mr Haq observed.

Welcoming both the MLAs, SP general secretary Shivpal Singh Yadav said they would be given due respect in the party. He said soon more MLAs from other parties would also be joining the SP.

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