Ahead of the seventh and final phase of the crucial Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday announced that Mayank Joshi, son of BJP MP Rita Bahuguna Joshi, has joined the Samajwadi Party.
Mayank was also present at a public meeting in Azamgarh and Akhilesh welcomed him on the stage. Addressing a rally in Azamgarh, Akhilesh said, “Mayank Joshi, son of Bharatiya Janata Party MP Rita Bahuguna Joshi, joined the Samajwadi Party today.”
Last month, Mayank had met Akhilesh amid speculations about his switch. The reports of Mayank joining the SP started after the BJP fielded Lucknow (central) MLA and minister Brijesh Pathak from the Lucknow Cantonment assembly seat.
Mayank joining the SP or not doesn’t affect much of his immediate politics, but helps the SP kick off its perception war.
Mayank’s mother Rita Bahuguna Joshi is the current BJP MP from Allahabad. She won the 2017 assembly election from Lucknow Cantt, and later, when she became an MP, the seat fell vacant and BJP’s Suresh Tiwari became the MLA.
The issue of Lucknow Cantonment seat was in full swing when Rita Bhaguna Joshi openly came to the press and said that her son “deserves” the ticket as he has been working hard for the party for many years. The BJP MP even said that if need be, she might even resign for her son.
Further, she had earlier denied that her son was in touch with the SP, saying: “I clearly contract this. I have campaigned for my party in Prayagraj in the last four days and have reached Delhi for the budget session. Mayank Joshi is away from the limelight in his house in Lucknow.
read all breaking news, today’s fresh news And Assembly Election Live Updates Here.