Felt awkward after split, says third SP MLC who quit party to join BJP

Sarojini Agarwal is the third SP MLC to quit the legislative council since July 29 when two others resigned citing differences with the party leadership.

In a fresh trouble for the Samajwadi party, another Member of Legislative Council (MLC) resigned from the party on Friday and joined Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in presence of Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister Rita Bahuguna Joshi.

Sarojini Agarwal is the third SP MLC to quit the legislative council since July 29 when two others resigned citing differences with the party leadership.

"Agarwal has tendered her resignation," according to the office of chairman Ramesh Yadav.

"I had been party MLC twice due to Netaji (Mulayam Singh Yadav). As he is not active in the party, I have resigned. I don't have problems with anyone in the party and I respect everyone. I felt awkward after split in the party and I did not feel like working in it," Agarwal, whose tenure was to end in 2021, told reporters after her resignation, according to PTI reports.

Earlier, Bukkal Nawab and Yashwant Singh quit the party. The Bukkal Nawab, founder of Rashtriya Shia Samaj had insinuated that he might join BJP if called upon and that many others from SP might follow suit soon.

(With agency inputs)