Brajesh Pathak (R) with BJP president Amit Shah and tourism minister Mahesh Sharma after joining BJP in New Delhi on Monday. A close aide of BSP chief Mayawati, Pathak joined the BJP in the presence of its national president Amit Shah and Union minister Mahesh Sharma in Lucknow. I thought any delay will be harmful; so I decided to join the party and I will help it win the 2017 election,” Pathak said while addressing the media. Maurya was followed by former minister and well-known Dalit leader R.K. Chaudhary, who also quit the party after accusing the BSP chief of corrupt practices. The Congress has fielded a popular Brahmin face, Sheila Dikshit, as their chief ministerial candidate, while Pathak has moved to the BJP.

Source: Mint August 22, 2016 16:52 UTC