Narad Rai quits BSP, says was 'suffocating' in party

Narad Rai, a former Samajwadi Party MLA who had joined the Bahujan Samaj Party ahead of the assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh earlier this year, resigned from the BSP today, saying he felt "suffocated" in the party.
Rai, who unsuccessfully contested on a BSP ticket from the Ballia Sadar seat, said he has sent his resignation to the party leadership.
He said the BSP did not give importance to his suggestions. "I was feeling suffocated in the BSP... There is a ban on agitations in the party... We are the people who have worked with Janeshwar Misra and Mulayam Singh Yadav."

Asked about his political future, he ruled out joining the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Rai, considered close to SP leader Shivpal Yadav, was sacked by then chief minister Akhilesh Yadav from his ministry and sidelined in the party.
He had joined the BSP in January this year.