Lucknow, 25 February: Shortly after Pandey announced his resignation, BSP president Mayawati started a post on X that is interpreted as a reaction to the MP’s charges.
The BSP, she claimed, was a “movement” committed to the cause of Dalit hero BR Ambedkar. That is why this party’s philosophy, operations, and candidate selection differ from those of other capitalist parties, she noted.
In a jab at the outgoing MP, she stated that the party’s MPs should reflect on whether they cared for the people in their constituencies and gave them time. They must also consider whether they followed the party’s instructions, she added.
“Is it conceivable to provide tickets to Lok Sabha MPs who wander about for selfish reasons and participate in unfavorable discussions”? She stated that the party’s interests come first, implying that if Pandey stayed, he would not have received a BSP election ticket.
In another major ticket change ahead of the general election, Lok Sabha MP Ritesh Pandey left the Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party to join the BJP. The 42-year-old is the MP from Ambedkar Nagar in Uttar Pradesh. Rakesh Pandey, his father, is a Samajwadi Party MLA in the Uttar Pradesh assembly.
Addressing the media after joining the BJP, Pandey stated that he was inspired by Prime Minister Modi’s vision of a developed India and had joined the party to strive toward this aim. Pandey posted the resignation letter he wrote to BSP head and former Chief Minister Mayawati on X earlier this morning. The letter expresses gratitude to her for providing him the opportunity to represent the party in Lok Sabha.
“I got your advice from the moment I joined public life via BSP. According to the letter, the party’s grassroots workers helped me understand how to navigate the halls of power.”
It then proceeds to address the elephant in the room. “For a long time, I have not been summoned to meetings. I am also not involved in leadership talks. I’ve attempted several times to meet with you and top officials, but to no effect. I’ve concluded that the party no longer requires my services or attendance. I am left with no choice except to withdraw from the party’s core membership.”
He described the choice to cut connections with the party as very agonizing.
Pandey contacted Sunil Bansal, the BJP’s national general secretary. The BJP has apparently offered to run him for the seat he now holds.
Pandey, alumni of London’s European Business School, has been a prominent lawmaker since being elected MP in 2019. He has articulated his party’s stance on several subjects. Surprisingly, his departure from the BSP comes only weeks after he joined several other Opposition MPs for lunch with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Parliament canteen.
Pandey had also tweeted images from the lunch meeting.
It was a privilege to be asked to lunch today by Prime Minister @narendramodi ji and understand how he leveraged his knowledge from the 2001 Bhuj earthquake to respond to the COVID-19 epidemic. He had added, “What an insightful discussion! Thank you for having us over!”
Along with sending his resignation to Bahujan Samaj Party President Mayawati, Ambedkar Nagar MP Ritesh Pandey has joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Linking him to BJP, election in-charge Baijayant Jai Panda, State President Bhupendra Chaudhary and Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak welcomed Ritesh Pandey.
After taking membership of BJP, MP Ritesh Pandey said that he has joined BJP after being impressed by the development policies of the Prime Minister. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has fulfilled all the development promises.
The demand for a main road from Varanasi to Ayodhya has also been fulfilled. On the question of contesting the Lok Sabha elections, he said that if BJP gives him a chance, he will again contest from Ambedkar Nagar Lok Sabha seat. Will promote development works by joining BJP party.
