BSP MP Ritesh Pandey Joins BJP, Mayawati Cites Possibility Of Cutting Lok Sabha Tickets When "Wandering For Own Interests"

Soon after resigning from Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Ambedkar Nagar MP Ritesh Pandey joined Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the presence of prominent Uttar Pradesh leaders at Delhi headquarters on Sunday (25 February).

In his resignation letter, Pandey had cited neglect by the party as his reason for resignation. On reasons for joining BJP, he highlighted the development works like industrial areas and expressway connectivity in his constituency.

However, his resignation didn't go down well with the BSP leadership as party supremo Mayawati indirectly targeted him by saying that on fears of getting their tickets cut, some Lok Sabha MPs are "wandering for their own interests."

BJP's UP election in charge Baijayant Jay Panda, state party president Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary and UP Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak were present in his joining ceremony.

Pandey won the 2019 elections from Ambedkar Nagar Lok Sabha constituency. Earlier, he won the 2017 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections from Jalalpur, an assembly segment under Ambedkar Nagar parliamentary constituency.

Both of these seats were earlier represented by his father Rakesh Pandey. Senior Pandey won the 2009 Lok Sabha election from Ambedkar Nagar and 2002 Assembly elections from Jalalpur on a BSP ticket.

He again won from Jalapur in the 2022 elections but on a Samajwadi Party (SP) ticket, which he joined months before the assembly elections.