New Delhi: Mulayam Singh Yadav's daughter-in-law Aparna Yadav on Wednesday joined the BJP just three weeks ahead of the first phase of polling in Uttar Pradesh.
She joined the party in the presence of Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya and and its state chief Swatantra Dev Singh at party headquarters here.
She is married to Prateek Yadav, son of Mulayam Singh Yadav's second wife while SP president Akhilesh Yadav is his son from the first marriage.
Aparna Yadav said she has always been impressed with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and added that the nation's interest has always been her priority.
Welcoming Aparna in the party, Singh said that Mulayam Singh Yadav's 'Bahu' (daughter-in-law) is joining BJP and she will work to strengthen the party.
Deputy chief minister Maurya said, "Despite being Mulayam Singh Yadav's daughter-in-law, she always spoke in favour of BJP's work."
Taking a dig at Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Maurya said, "Akhilesh was not successful in managing family, as chief minister and also as a Member of Parliament. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and my name were announced in the first list of BJP. Akhilesh, who always tried to take credit for BJP government's work have no courage to contest assembly polls from anywhere in the Uttar Pradesh."
There had been much speculation about her joining the BJP, and the development highlights the rift in the SP's ruling family at a time when Akhilesh Yadav has been working to rally the party's base in the run up to the state assembly polls.
It is learnt that she is seeking a ticket from Lucknow Cantt assembly seat, however, the BJP leadership has clarified that there is no pre-condition for joining.
Aparna Yadav had contested the 2017 assembly polls on the Samajwadi Party ticket from Lucknow Cantt but had lost to BJP's Rita Bahuguna Joshi, now a Lok Sabha member.
The Uttar Pradesh assembly polls will be held in seven phases in February-March starting from February 10. Counting of votes will be held on March 10.
(With IANS and PTI inputs)
