The Bahujan Samaj Party MLA from Nagal (Saharanpur) Satto Devi, who had recently joined the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), on Tuesday switched over to the ruling Samajwadi Party.
Satto Devi, widow of Elam Singh, had won assembly by-election last year. The seat had fallen vacant following death of her husband and the BSP had then fielded her in the by-poll. The BSP president Mayawati had recently denied her ticket for the next assembly election and she switched over to the RLD. With the RLD recently breaking the alliance she has now joined the SP. In order to jack up its strength in the state assembly the SP had earlier won over nearly a dozen BJP MLAs.
Talking to newsmen here on Tuesday the SP general secretary and PWD Minister Shivpal Singh Yadav and Transport Minister Naresh Agarwal said, "Her entry would strengthen the party in Saharanpur region". Yadav said "some more MLAs from other parties would join the SP soon".
Naresh Agarwal claimed that the numerical strength of parties, going against the Mulayam Singh Yadav government during motion of trust on the floor of the House, would considerably shrink. Agarwal said "the people are so much happy with the state government performance that they would not like other parties to oppose it in the House". He said, "The opposition MLAs have realised the mood of the people."
Agarwal said, "Congress, BJP, BSP and RLD have been trying to mislead the people but their gameplan would not succeed."
He said the party would seek vote on the basis of its three-year performance. Agarwal said "the party would raise the law and order issue in other states in next session of Lok Sabha.
{{/usCountry}}He said the party would seek vote on the basis of its three-year performance. Agarwal said "the party would raise the law and order issue in other states in next session of Lok Sabha.
{{/usCountry}}He said, "Union Home Ministry should issue a white paper on general law and order situation in other states."
The Transport Minister said the Congress led UPA government had been deliberately trying to create shortage of fertilizers in the state. He said "Congress and other parties have been misleading Raj Bhawan on crime situation in the state."
Email M Hasan: mhasan@hindustantimes.com