Lucknow, Nov 2(UNI) Former Unnao MP and Congress leader Annu Tandon, who resigned from the primary membership of Congress party last week, has formally joined Samajwadi Party here on Monday.
Ms Tandon, along with hundred of her supporters, joined the SP where Akhilesh Yadav gave her a rousing welcome.
Mr Yadav said that joining of Ms Tandon will certainly strengthen the party particularly in the Unnao region, where she had worked intensively for the poor.
Ms Tandon too said that she will work tirelessly to strengthen SP. She has already appealed to her supporters to vote for Samajwadi Party in the upcoming bypoll on Bangarmau assembly seat of Unnao, where polling will be held tomorrow.
"Our aim will be to make Akhilesh jee next CM of UP," she said while added that she decided to part ways with Congress as it would not progress further.
Ms Tandon said after 2019 elections, Congress started ignoring her which was also one of the reason to leave the party and join SP, which has the future in the state.
On October 29, Ms Tandon and UP Congress general secretary Ankit Parihar had resigned from the Congress. Before her resignation, Tandon had accused the party of constantly neglecting her. The former MP from Unnao said due to lack of coordination between the state leadership, she was not getting any support for several months. She also alleged that the state leadership was so busy in media management and branding itself that it had no concern with the disintegrating vote bank.
“Today, I have submitted my resignation from the Indian National Congress. My statement with regard to this is being shared by me. Need love and blessings of all my well-wishers!” tweeted Tandon. She added that she would take a decision about her future plans only after consulting colleagues and workers.
The resignation from Congress and joining Samajwadi Party at a crucial time may also impact the results of by-elections to be held on Bangarmau assembly seat in Unnao. As per reports, the local Congress leaders are not reaching out to campaign in support of Congress candidate Aarti Vajpayee.
The Bangarmau Assembly seat of Unnao fell vacant after former BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar was found guilty in rape case by Special CBI Court and was sent to jail.
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