Lok Sabha MP quits his party and joins BJP weeks after lunch with PM Modi

NEW DELHI: In another major switch, Uttar Pradesh BSP MP Ritesh Pandey left the party and joined the BJP. The development comes weeks after the 42-year-old MP from Ambedkar Nagar Lok Sabha constituency attended the lunch organized by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Parliament Canteen. His father Rakesh Pandey is a Samajwadi Party MLA from UP.

Responding to the media, Ritesh Pandey said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of India's development made him join the BJP. He had shared a copy of his resignation letter from BSP to Mayawati on his X page. He thanked Mayawati for giving him the opportunity and clarified that now the party does not invite him in any meetings. The letter also says that the decision was taken because he realized that the party no longer needed him.

Those who leave should also be prepared to think about what the people have done for them after electing them. "They must also introspect if they followed the party's directions," she said.

"Is it possible to give tickets to Lok Sabha MPs when they roamed around for their selfish goals and remained a part of negative discussions? The party's interests are paramount," she added. It can be understood from Mayawati's response that Pandey would not have been given the BSP sitting seat even if he had remained in the party.

At the same time, there are reports that Ritesh Pandey has been holding talks with the BJP state leadership for the past few weeks. It is reported that the BJP has assured Ritesh Pandey that he will be given a party ticket in his constituency Ambedkar Nagar and joined the BJP on the basis of this assurance. At the same time, Kollam MP NK Premachandran was severely criticized by the Left in Kerala for attending the lunch organized by the Prime Minister.