The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in Uttar Pradesh received a shot in its arm when several leaders of the teachers’ union, including sitting Independent MLC from Lucknow Graduate and Teachers’ constituency Umesh Dwivedi, joined the party in the presence of party state president Swatantra Dev Singh and Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma here on Wednesday.
The new entrants were welcomed by the BJP leaders into the party fold and given membership cards.
Dwivedi said that he would perform his duties as a simple worker and take up whatever responsibility the party gave him.
“The BJP has taken a new initiative for the non-aided teachers in the state and these teachers will support BJP in every matter,” he said.
The other leaders of different teachers associations who joined the party included Secondary Teachers Federation general secretary Ajay Singh, Ad hoc Teachers Association state president Sanjay Singh and Vocational Teachers Association general secretary Alok Shukla.
MLC Umesh Dwivedi’s term is expiring on May 6, 2020 and he is expected to contest from Lucknow graduates constituency with BJP support.
With Dwivedi joining the ruling party, the strength of the BJP has gone up to 23 in the Legislative Council. In the 100-member Upper House, the BJP is in minority. The main opposition party Samajwadi Party has 55 members followed by Bahujan Samaj Party with eight members and seven Independents. The Congress has two members while the teachers’ group has four.
