LUCKNOW: The BJP on Monday expelled its sitting MLC Yashwant Singh for six year on charges of 'anti-party activities' and fielding his son Vikrant Singh against party's authorized candidate Arun Yadav in legislative council polls from Mau local body quota seat.
The development is being seen as a pronounced action of the BJP in politically crucial east UP. A SP turncoat, Yashwant Singh had joined the BJP after it swept to power in 2017 assembly elections. Though he is considered close to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the BJP made Arun Yadav, son of SP legislator from Phulpur Pawai in Azamgarh, Ramakant Yadav as the candidate.
Yashwant's son Vikrant alias Rishu, however, filed his nomination as independent in what left the saffron brass in chagrin. Sources said that initially the party thought Vikrant would withdraw its candidature, but he didn't. At the same time, the BJP pressed its leaders, including its Kisan Morcha president Kameshwar Singh and Gorakhpur region general secretary Sahjanand Rai, for ensuring enough backing for Arun.
Power and urban development minister AK Sharma, too, is learnt to have camped in Mau to meet party workers. Sources said that the BJP seeks a win for Arun Yadav as a revenge from the SP which swept all the assembly seats in Azamgarh.
Yashwant has a long political journey behind him. He contested his first assembly election from Mubarakpur assembly seat in Azamgarh in 1984 but lost by a slender margin of 250 votes. In 1989, he joined Janta Dal and won from the seat. He then switched over to Chandrashekhar's Samajwadi Janata Party and contested in 1991 but lost.
In 2004, SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav made Yashwant MLC on the SP ticket for the first time. He was sent to the upper house for two more consecutive times -- in 2010 and 2016. After he switched over to the BJP again routed Yashwant to council. His tenure is till May 5, 2024.
