BJP MP hands over resignation letter to chowkidar

Irked over denial of a renomination, BJP sitting MP from Hardoi Lok Sabha seat in UP, Anshul Verma on Wednesday resigned from the party and hinted at joining the rival Samajwadi Party (SP).

In an apparent display of his resentment, Verma handed over his resignation letter to the 'chowkidar' at the BJP headquarters here, to register his protest against the 'Main Bhi Chowkidar' campaign by prime minister Narendra Modi.

He also gave a one hundred rupee note to the 'chowkidar' asking him to give the resignation letter to the concerned person at the party office.

''I was denied renomination because I hail from Dalit community. ''BJP has denied renomination to six Dalit sitting MPs.... it seems Dalits are worth nothing in the BJP,'' Verma said. BJP has fielded Jai Prakash Rawat from Hardoi replacing Verma. Hardoi is a reserved constituency.

Verma had earlier also opposed the 'Main Bhi Chowkidar' campaign and had refused to add 'chowkidar' before his name on his twitter handle.

According to the sources, Verma was likely to join the SP.

Over two dozen sitting BJP MP had been denied renomination by the saffron party in the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls triggering widespread resentment within the party. Sources said that several sitting MPs, who had been denied tickets, could turn rebels and either contest as independents or join the rival parties.

Chaudhary Babulal, who was denied ticket from Fatehpur Sikri seat, has convened a meeting of his supporters to decide about his future course of action.

Mriganka Singh, the daughter of the senior BJP leader Hukum Singh, who was also denied ticket from Kairana LS seat, reacted sharply and alleged that a ''conspiracy'' was hatched against her by some of her own party leaders.