Lucknow: Voting for Purvanchal’s Ballia Lok Sabha seat is to be held on June 1 in the seventh and final phase. Only two days are left for election campaign and only three days for voting. Voting is so close and Samajwadi Party has suffered a major setback. Former minister Narad Rai, who was close to SP founder Mulayam Singh Yadav, has announced to leave the party and join Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Narad, who is counted among the big leaders of Ballia, has made this announcement by posting on Instagram after meeting Home Minister Amit Shah.
After meeting Amit Shah, Narad Rai gave a piece of his mind to SP chief Akhilesh Yadav. He said that I am leaving Samajwadi Party with a very heavy and sad heart. Narad Rai said that there was a 40-year association which I left today. He accused SP chief Akhilesh Yadav of insulting him and said that my mistake is that I chose Mulayam between Akhilesh and Mulayam. Narad said that for the last seven years I was being constantly insulted.
He (Narad Rai) also alleged that Akhilesh Yadav cut my ticket in 2017. Narad said that Akhilesh gave me the ticket in 2022 but also arranged for my defeat. Referring to Akhilesh’s rally in Ballia two days ago, he said that I was insulted even on the stage. Akhilesh Yadav did not even take my name from the stage. After meeting Amit Shah, Narad Rai said that now he will put all his strength for BJP. He said that he will try to ensure BJP’s victory with as much strength as possible.
Speculation of SP leader Narad Rai joining BJP intensifies
Narad Rai said, ‘You will remember, Balram Yadav was dismissed from the government for opposing the inclusion of this Ansari family in the party. Shivpal Yadav was dismissed. Akhilesh came to his house when that mafia died. He also tried to get him the status of a martyr. He cut our ticket due to the interference and opposition of the Ansari family. I did not like this. I have never done politics as a courtier of the Ansari family and I will never do it. I cannot become anyone’s courtier. I am a courtier of the people and will continue to struggle for the people.’
The senior leader said, ‘What could be more unfortunate for me than the fact that the people of the organization did not even mention my name on the stage. People did not let us feel it and did not let us go on the stage. Akhilesh Yadav addresses and does not take my name. He is forgetting my name. So what will we do by remembering Akhilesh Yadav now? That is why I have decided that I will no longer be with Akhilesh. I am grateful to Neeraj Shekhar and Om Prakash Rajbhar that they contacted us. I got affection from Amit Shah and he told me that your honor will be taken care of.’
