Former BSP, SP leaders join BJP

Three former leaders of the BSP and SP Monday joined the BJP ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, Uttar Pradesh BJP president Lakshmikant Bajpai said Monday.

Former Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MP Rajesh Verma, who was a member of the 14th Lok Sabha, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Monday.

Former Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Kaushal Kishore, who later joined the Rashtravadi Communist Party, also joined the BJP.

Kishore is a prominent Dalit leader in Uttar Pradesh, and is expected to attract Dalit votes.

Dharmendra Singh, grandson of socialist leader Raj Narain, was the third leader to join the BJP Monday. Singh holds an MBA degree and was working in the insurance sector.

In 1977, Raj Narain defeated then prime minister Indira Gandhi from Rae Bareli as a Janata Party candidate.

"These three leaders will improve our prospects in Uttar Pradesh," Bajpai said.