SP MLA deserts party; joins rival BSP

In a jolt to the Samajwadi Party in its stronghold Etawah, its sitting MLA from Sadar seat Mahendra Singh Rajpoot and former MP Ram Singh Shakya on Thursday joined the BSP.

In a jolt to the Samajwadi Party in its stronghold Etawah, its sitting MLA from Sadar seat Mahendra Singh Rajpoot and former MP Ram Singh Shakya on Thursday joined the BSP.

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Rajpoot and Shakya on Thursday met BSP supremo Mayawati and joined the party, a party spokesperson in Lucknow said.

Rajpoot, who has been elected for the second time from Etawah Sadar seat, alleged that the SP has become a party of a "particular caste" and he was feeling suffocated there.

The MLA said though he had been associated with the SP for long time, he was not being given due respect.

Shakya said, BSP was the only party that worked in the interest of all sections of the society.