Meerut: In a jiffy Congress Before the assembly elections, senior Congress leader and AICC secretary in charge of Delhi Imran Masood, leaving the old party spotless in western Uttar Pradesh, joined the Samajwadi Party (SP) on Monday. Masood, considered a heavyweight in Saharanpur, has called the electoral race a “direct fight between the SP and the BJP” and hence, he chose to “stand with Akhilesh Yadav now”.
“I received honor and respect in Congress, and Priyanka Gandhi Gave me many opportunities to work. But for the time being, it is important to stop the BJP and there is no other option but the SP.”
Interestingly, the SP is yet to issue a formal statement on the West UP leader joining the party. A senior party leader from the region said, “The Masood clan has always been close to the SP high command. Imran’s uncle and mentor Rasheed Masood Mulayam Singh and Akhilesh Yadav were also very close to both. If Imran Joining SP, I think it will be Ghar Wapsi for them.”
In September last year, Masood sparked a political storm by praising SP chief Akhilesh, saying that “the SP is the only party that can defeat the BJP in UP.”
Reacting sharply to Monday’s developments, Congress national media panelist Pankhuri Pathak said, “No one can stop anyone from leaving or joining the party. Our general secretary, Priyanka Gandhi had earlier said that she was aware that some people Will give up and try not to stop anyone. This is a battle of courageous people. We don’t want people who change loyalty at the drop of a hat.”
Masood came into the limelight in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections when he allegedly used derogatory language against him. Narendra Modi in a rally and was booked for the same.
Although he garnered a considerable number of votes in both the general elections on a Congress ticket, he has not won an election since 2007 – neither the Lok Sabha or the Vidhan Sabha. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Masood got 407,909 votes, but lost Raghav Lakhanpali of BJP. In 2019, he was the second runner-up with 207,068 votes.
Meanwhile, the police have registered an FIR against Masood for “violating the provisions of the Model Code of Conduct and Epidemic Diseases Act”. Saharanpur SP (City) Rajesh Kumar “A huge crowd had gathered at Imran Masood’s house on Monday which was against the rules of the Election Commission. Altogether a case has been registered against 300 people, including 10 nominees,” he said.
“I received honor and respect in Congress, and Priyanka Gandhi Gave me many opportunities to work. But for the time being, it is important to stop the BJP and there is no other option but the SP.”
Interestingly, the SP is yet to issue a formal statement on the West UP leader joining the party. A senior party leader from the region said, “The Masood clan has always been close to the SP high command. Imran’s uncle and mentor Rasheed Masood Mulayam Singh and Akhilesh Yadav were also very close to both. If Imran Joining SP, I think it will be Ghar Wapsi for them.”
In September last year, Masood sparked a political storm by praising SP chief Akhilesh, saying that “the SP is the only party that can defeat the BJP in UP.”
Reacting sharply to Monday’s developments, Congress national media panelist Pankhuri Pathak said, “No one can stop anyone from leaving or joining the party. Our general secretary, Priyanka Gandhi had earlier said that she was aware that some people Will give up and try not to stop anyone. This is a battle of courageous people. We don’t want people who change loyalty at the drop of a hat.”
Masood came into the limelight in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections when he allegedly used derogatory language against him. Narendra Modi in a rally and was booked for the same.
Although he garnered a considerable number of votes in both the general elections on a Congress ticket, he has not won an election since 2007 – neither the Lok Sabha or the Vidhan Sabha. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Masood got 407,909 votes, but lost Raghav Lakhanpali of BJP. In 2019, he was the second runner-up with 207,068 votes.
Meanwhile, the police have registered an FIR against Masood for “violating the provisions of the Model Code of Conduct and Epidemic Diseases Act”. Saharanpur SP (City) Rajesh Kumar “A huge crowd had gathered at Imran Masood’s house on Monday which was against the rules of the Election Commission. Altogether a case has been registered against 300 people, including 10 nominees,” he said.
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