Mulayam's SP suffers setback as MP joins rival Ajit Singh's RLD

New Delhi, Feb 26 (UNI) Shorn of friends, and just ahead of Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, the Samajwadi Party(SP) led by Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav today suffered a setback when its sitting MP Munawwar Hasan joined the Rashtriya Lok Dal of Ajit Singh, till recently a SP ally but now turned rival.

Mr Hasan, who represents Muzaffarnagar in the Lok Sabha, announced his parting of ways with the SP in the presence of Mr Singh, the Jat leader of western Uttar Pradesh and son of former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh.

''It is like a homecoming for Mr Hasan as he formerly belonged to RLD. His presence in the party will boost its prospects in the coming Assembly election in the state,'' said Mr Singh at a news conference here.

Mr Hasan said he will now devote himself completely to the cause of a 'Harit Pradesh' comprising western districts of Uttar Pradesh, a demand being opposed by Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav, the state chief minister.

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