Another Maya confidant joins BJP

In a blow to Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati, Brajesh Pathak, once seen as her close confidant, joined the BJP on Monday.

A former Rajya Sabha MP,  Pathak’s entry into the BJP came two months after a prominent backward class leader, Swami Prasad Maurya, rebelled against Mayawati. He was also her close aide.

Pathak joined the BJP in the presence of party president Amit Shah and Union Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma.

As a Brahmin leader in Mayawati’s party, Pathak, like Maurya, was an important player  in her “social engineering” formula, which helped her to come to power in Uttar Pradesh with an absolute majority in 2007.

The BJP’s decision is seen as part of a strategy to leave the BSP without influential leaders who command “caste votes”. The state goes to polls in early 2017.

Pathak’s admission into the BJP was announced after Mayawati expelled him for “anti-party activities”. She had also expelled Maurya, who had accused her of selling party tickets for a high price.

Maurya was the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly before he left the BSP in June.

“I have decided to quit the BSP since the party is floundering on the very concept of Sarv Samaj (a policy once initiated by Mayawati to involve all communities),” Pathak said.

“Uttar Pradesh can only be saved by development, I have joined the BJP with the motive of development. I have only expressed faith in the policies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the work culture of BJP president Amit Shah. I will do whatever the party asks me to do,” Pathak added. 

Welcoming Pathak, Sharma, said: “His presence will strengthen the BJP.”