Maurya gets feelers from BJP

Swami Prasad Maurya, who resigned from the BSP a few days back, seems to be in no tearing hurry and was weighing his options, which, according to his close aides, included floating a new outfit comprising dissident and old OBC leaders from the BSP.

Maurya, who rejected offer of a cabinet berth from the ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) and termed the latter as the party of “goonda elements”, has also received feelers from the BJP, sources here said.

The SP leaders also ruled out Maurya’s entry into the party. “Maurya got more that he deserved,” senior SP leader Shivpal Singh Yadav said.

“As of now I am not going anywhere....I will discuss the future course of action with my supporters next month before taking any decision,” Maurya, an MLA from Padruana assembly seat in Kushinagar district, said. Sources said that Maurya was in touch with “dissident” OBC leaders within the BSP and was also considering to form a new outfit with them and those leaders, who had left the BSP owing to differences with its supremo Mayawati.

“Resentment among the OBC leaders within the BSP is growing following Mayawati’s preference to brahmin and dalit leaders over them,” said a close aide of Maurya here while speaking to Deccan Herald.

Sources also said that Maurya had received feelers from the BJP, which was looking to expand its reach among the OBC voters in the state ahead of next year’s assembly elections. “We will consider if Maurya expresses his willingness to join BJP,” said UP BJP president Keshav Prasad Maurya.

Maurya, who had served as the state BSP chief and a four time MLA, is said to wield considerable influence over the “maurya” community that forms around 6% of the state electorate.

Sources said that Maurya was likely to meet senior BJP leaders in Delhi soon. “Maurya will want a respectable position in the party and also assembly nominations for his son and daughter,” remarked a state BJP leader here.