Sarojini Agarwal quits as SP MLC, joins BJP

In a jolt to the Samajwadi Party (SP), its member Sarojini Agarwal on Friday resigned from the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council and joined the BJP in the presence of Minister Rita Bahuguna Joshi and Mahendra Singh.

“Agarwal has tendered her resignation,” according to the office of chairman Ramesh Yadav.

“I had been party MLC twice due to Netaji [Mulayam Singh Yadav]. As he is not active in the party, I have resigned. I don’t have problems with anyone in the party and I respect everyone. I felt awkward after the split in the party and I did not feel like working in it,” Ms. Agarwal, whose tenure was to end in 2021, told reporters after her resignation.

BJP spokesman Shalabh Mani Tripathi said, “The joining shows the increasing trust and confidence of not only the common man but leaders of the other parties too in Prime Minister Narendra Modi and our national president Amit Shah.”