Ahead of UP Assembly polls, Beni Prasad Verma jumps Congress' sinking ship, joins SP

Lucknow, May 13: Ahead of next year Uttar Pradesh Assembly election, senior Congress leader Beni Prasad Verma has joined Samajwadi party (SP).

On Friday, Verma took membership of the party in the presence of many important leaders including Mulayam singh, Akhilesh Yadav and Azam Khan.

Verma who joined Congress in 2009, had recently expressed displeasure with congress saying he was feeling suffocated.

He used to be the closed confidant of Mulayam Singh before he quit SP in 2007 after Amar Singh came into the picture.

While addressing a press conference on Friday, Mulayam Singh said, "It was Beni Prasad who named the party as Samajwadi Party,"

On this occasion, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister also heaped praise on Beni and said, "old books, old wine and old friendship are unforgettable and Beni's presence will provide strength to party".

Sources say, Kurmi leader Beni Prasad has joined SP with the motive to ensure ministerial berth for his son.

OneIndia News