The move which could widen the rift between members of Opposition bloc—INDIA, Samajawadi Party(SP) founder member Ravi Prakash Verma has quit his party and is all set to join Congress.
The move is a major setback for SP as Verma three-time MP from Lakhimpur Kheri, is a prominent Kurmi (OBC) leader.
The development has come amid the SP’s recent tussle with the Congress over seat-sharing for the Madhya Pradesh Assembly polls, which did not fructify.
Both parties are constituents of the Opposition INDIA alliance.
Verma, 63, quit the SP along with his daughter Purvi Verma, 33, with both claiming that they were forced to take the decision as the Akhilesh Yadav-led party has allegedly got detached from the people on the ground and has deviated from its founding principles, IE reported.
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It said both of them will join the Congress on Monday.
An MBBS doctor, Purvi contested the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from the Lakhimpur Kheri seat on the SP ticket but lost to BJP leader Ajay Mishra Teni, the report mentioned.
Verma’s exit from the SP assumes significance as he is a known Kurmi face in the state, belonging to a prominent political family.
His father Balgovind Verma, the four-term MP from Lakhimpur Kheri, was a minister in the Indira Gandhi Cabinet. Following Balgovind’s death in 1980, his wife Usha had contested and won from the same constituency thrice.
Later, Ravi assumed their political legacy, winning from the seat three times.
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In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls,Verma was defeated by Ajay Mishra Teni in Lakhimpur Kheri. Purvi also suffered defeat from the same seat in 2019.
“I had joined politics after being impressed with the working of Akhilesh Yadav but now feel sad to say that Samajwadi Party has deviated from the core value of socialism that involves raising the voice for farmers, unemployment, women security,” Purvi was quoted in the report as having said.
“Public perceive things very seriously. They see BJP sending leaders to the ground and they do not see our leaders coming. People watch if the party leadership is only serious about certain seats or people. These things do not go unnoticed among people and party has to pay the price,” she said, the report mentioned.
Echoing his daughter’s views, Verma said, “Today, SP is relying on managers rather than leaders. At a time, when BJP is forming booth committees, our district leadership is busy making rounds of Lucknow because party needs managers. For people, who have to contest on ground, these things make it difficult for them,” the report mentioned.
