BSP leader joins SP

Lucknow, July 28 (UNI) A senior BSP leader and former Uttar Pradesh MLA today joined the ruling Samajwadi Party.

His joining comes a day after sitting BJP MLA Shivendra Singh joined the SP yesterday.

Ramesh Rahi, son of former union minister and senior Congress leader Ramlal Rahi joined the SP along with over 150 supporters, most of them holding positions in local rural bodies.

Ramesh Rahi was with the SP, but had left it to join former chief minister Mayawati's BSP. He had represented SP in the assembly once.

''Certain reasons had forced me to leave the SP. But, now I have returned home as I have realised it was only money, which counted in BSP,' he claimed.

Senior SP leader and state PWD minister Shivpal Singh Yadav was also present on the occasion.

To a poser, Ramesh Rahi said he wanted his father, a six time MP, to also join the SP. ''I have not spoken to him in this regard as yet,'' he added.

A few days ago, Congress' sitting MLA from Moradabad (Dehat) Shamim-u-Haq had joined the SP. Yesterday, Shivendra Singh, MLA from Siswan Bazaar in Maharajganj had joined the SP.

Interacting with reporters, Rahi denied speculations the SP has assured him a ticket for the 2007 assembly polls. ''Let the SP leadership decide on the issue.'' UNI NAB VS SKU PM1816