Dara Singh Chauhan, OBC Leader, Quits As UP Minister

New Delhi:

A second minister, Dara Singh Chauhan, has give up Yogi Adityanath’s cupboard in Uttar Pradesh, persevering with a flurry of exits that began with Swami Prasad Maurya’s shock resignation yesterday. That is the second OBC (Different Backward Class) chief to give up workforce Yogi simply earlier than the Uttar Pradesh election subsequent month.

Mr Chauhan, from japanese UP, was the minister for setting and forests within the Adityanath authorities and had joined the BJP in 2015, after years within the Bahujan Samaj Social gathering (BSP). He was made the top of the BJP’s OBC Morcha – a plum put up, after which a minister after he received the 2017 meeting election. When in BSP, Mr Chauhan was a Lok Sabha MP between 2009-14 and a Rajya Sabha MP within the late 90’s.

“It can’t be that I say one thing on someday after which resign the following day. I hoped my voice can be heard eventually. However when issues got here to the purpose that nobody was prepared to take heed to me, I needed to resign,” Mr Chauhan informed NDTV when requested why he was quitting simply earlier than the elections.

In an enormous blow to the BJP because it seeks re-election in India’s most politically very important state, two ministers and 4 MLAs have give up thus far and are set to affix the Samajwadi Social gathering of Akhilesh Yadav.

“I labored with dedication however I’m resigning as I’m harm by this authorities’s oppressive perspective in direction of the backward, disadvantaged sections, Dalits, farmers and unemployed youth and the neglect of quota for the backward and Dalits,” Mr Chauhan wrote in his resignation letter, utilizing virtually the identical language as Swami Prasad Maurya.

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On cue, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s deputy Keshav Prasad Maurya put out a tweet urging Mr Chauhan to rethink the transfer.

“If any member of the family strays, it is extremely unhappy. I can solely attraction to the revered leaders who’re going, please do not get on a sinking ship or it is going to be their loss. Large brother Dara Singh, please rethink your choice,” Keshav Maurya wrote.

He had made an analogous attraction to Swami Prasad Maurya, who resigned yesterday, setting off a nosebleed within the BJP of OBC or backward caste leaders.

The exits are blowing a gap within the BJP’s OBC management earlier than an election the place the celebration’s foremost challenger is Akhilesh Yadav and backward votes are essential.

Mr Chauhan is probably going following the BSP-BJP-Samajwadi Social gathering circuit like 5 others earlier than him.

The resignations started on Tuesday with Swami Prasad Maurya delivering the primary blow. 4 MLAs adopted – Roshan Lal Verma, Brijesh Prajapati, Bhagwati Sagar and Vinay Shakya.

“My transfer has brought about a bhuchaal (earthquake) within the BJP,” Mr Maurya boasted in an interview to NDTV, claiming that extra ministers and MLAs would go away the celebration together with him.

Shortly after Mr Maurya posted his resignation letter on Twitter, Samajwadi Social gathering chief Akhilesh Yadav tweeted a photograph with him, welcoming him and his supporters to his celebration.

The BJP management, shocked by the exodus of strategically vital OBC (Different Backward Class) leaders, has tasked Keshav Prasad Maurya with persuading the rebels to alter their thoughts.

Mr Maurya was one of many BJP’s most distinguished backward leaders and was key to the celebration’s technique of reeling in non-Yadav OBC voters within the UP election, as a counter to Akhilesh Yadav.

Final 12 months, these leaders have been a part of a gaggle that had revolted in opposition to Yogi Adityanath and had complained to the management about his working type and his “vanity”.

Although the BJP despatched a central workforce to take suggestions and counsel modifications, nothing got here of the efforts and the celebration opted for establishment.

Mr Maurya had additionally met with Union Residence Minister Amit Shah two months in the past.