Before the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party got a shot on its arm as leaders from various opposition parties joined the ruling party at its office in Lucknow.

BJP state president Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary and Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak welcomed the former MLAs of Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and Congress into the party fold at a ceremony held at the BJP state headquarters here.

Among the notable opposition leaders who joined the BJP were former SP MLA Sanjay Garg and former BSP MLA Rajkumar Gautam, who officially became members of the ruling party.

Addressing the gathering at the party office, the BJP state president emphasised the party’s commitment to its ideology and unwavering dedication to implementing government schemes for the welfare of all citizens.

He highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for a developed nation and attributed the growing influx of members from other parties to the transformative journey led by the prime minister.

Notably, Surendra Singh, who was elected as an MLA from Bairiya in Ballia district on BJP ticket in 2017 but had contested the election as an independent in 2022 after being denied ticket, has returned to the BJP fold.

Similarly, Dr Chandresh Upadhyay, who contested the 2019 Lok Sabha election on a Congress ticket from Dumariyaganj, also joined the BJP on Wednesday.

The beeline for the BJP also saw former SP MLA Sanjay Garg and former BSP MLA Rajkumar Gautam joining the ruling party.

Garg, a former MLA from Saharanpur and president of SP’s Vyapar Mandal, brings significant influence from the business community.

Gautam, who previously represented Ghazipur Sadar as a BSP MLA, has decided to align with the BJP after facing defeat in the 2022 assembly election.

Furthermore, the BJP welcomed key figures from grassroots politics, including SP’s Jalaun municipality chairperson Arvind Yadav and Balrampur nagar panchayat chairperson Prince Kumar Nigam, into its ranks.

The mass defection of opposition leaders to the BJP signifies a major political realignment in Uttar Pradesh, setting the stage for a fiercely contested Lok Sabha election. With these new additions, the BJP aims to consolidate its position and further its agenda of inclusive development under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.