Rebel BSP leader Swami Prasad Maurya likely to join BJP

Lucknow: After closing doors for himself in the ruling Samajwadi Party by calling it a ‘party of goons’, the rebel BSP leader Swami Prasad Maurya, on Friday, landed in Delhi to meet the senior BJP leaders, apparently to discuss his position in the party.

Sources said that Maurya had meetings with BJP’s National President Amit Shah and spokesperson Om Mathur. However, it won’t be easy for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to find a suitable place for Maurya, especially after party recently made Keshav Maurya the state president for Uttar Pradesh.

What Keshav Maurya said?

• Party is closely analysing the present political situation in UP
• Swami Prasad Maurya has yet not expressed his desire of joining BJP
• If he proposes to join BJP, it shall be taken into consideration

Amit Shah and Swami Prasad met last month

• Sources say that both Swami Prasad Maurya and Amit Shah had a meeting in May
• Both the leaders met in Mumbai
• Swami Prasad was looking for options since past few months to walk out of BSP

BJP’s biggest trouble

• Swami Prasad is among the influential leaders in Uttar Pradesh
• Maurya has a strong hold over OBCs in the state who share nearly 8 per cent of the total vote bank
• Swami Prasad cannot be made the in-charge of UP as BJP recently appointed Keshav Maurya as the BJP State President