Ahead of the upcoming general elections, BSP Lok Sabha MP from Ambedkar Nagar Ritesh Pandey on Sunday resigned from the party's primary membership and joined the BJP in New Delhi.
In his resignation letter addressed to BSP president Mayawati, Pandey said he has come to the conclusion that the party does not need his service as neither has he been called for meetings for a long time nor has the party leadership spoken to him.
He shared his resignation letter on X.
"For a long time, neither am I being called to attend party meetings nor has the party leadership spoken to me. I made numerous efforts to get in touch with and meet you (Mayawati) and the top leadership of the party but it did not yield any result," Pandey said in his letter.
"During this time, I continuously met workers and supporters of other parties in my area and was also involved in various works going on in the constituency. Hence, I have come to the conclusion that the party does not need my service and presence," he said.
"So, I do not have any other option apart from resigning from the primary membership of the party. The decision to break the relationship with the party is a difficult decision from the emotional point of view," he added.
Pandey further urged Mayawati to accept his resignation.
Hours later, he joined the BJP in the presence of senior party leaders, including Uttar Pradesh in-charge Baijayant Jay Panda, national general secretary Tarun Chugh, Uttar Pradesh unit chief Bhupendra Singh, Rajya MP and party's national media incharge Anil Baluni.
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak was also among those present.
Welcoming Pandey into the party fold, Baluni said impressed by the BJP's policies and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, a large number of political and social workers want to join the party.
"In this series, a very important personality, Ritesh Pandey, the BSP MP from Uttar Pradesh's Ambedkar Nagar Lok Sabha constituency, has joined the BJP today," Baluni said at a press conference at the BJP headquarters here.
"A strong wind is blowing in favour of Prime Minister Modi," he added.
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pathak said Pandey has taken a "courageous step" by joining the BJP.
He said Pandey decided to join the BJP after seeing the all-round development of the country and to contribute to the prime minister's resolve to make India a developed nation.
"I heartily welcome Ritesh Pandey into the BJP family and assure you that the way Ritesh Pandey has taken the courageous step of becoming a BJP member, he will unite the youth of Uttar Pradesh to fulfil Prime Minister Modi's dream of making India a developed country," Pathak said.
"Crores of youths of the country are ready to work with Prime Minister Modi today, accepting him as their leader," he said.
Pathak said Pandey, a management graduate, dedicated his life to social work apart from studies.
"His father Rakesh Pandey, who is a member of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, was the Lok Sabha MP from Ambedkar Nagar in the past. While working with him and participating in social activities, Ritesh Pandey became popular and was elected to the Lok Sabha from Ambedkar Nagar," he added.
Speaking at the press conference, Pandey thanked the BJP leadership for giving him the party's primary membership with "a lot of love and respect".
"I have come forward to work and contribute to Prime Minister Modi's vision for a 'Viksit Bharat' under his leadership," he said.
"I want to thank respected Nadda ji for giving me a place in this family. I would also like to thank the home minister of the country who guided me throughout this journey," he said.
Pandey said he will work with "full dedication" under the BJP leadership and help the party achieve its target of winning 400-plus seats in the Lok Sabha polls.
BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh said he is confident that Pandey will carry forward the prime minister's vision for a 'Viksit Bharat'.
Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by The Telegraph Online staff and has been published from a syndicated feed.
