In a significant turn of events, former BSP Member of Parliament Dhananjay Singh made a public declaration of his backing for the BJP in Jaunpur ahead of the impending Lok Sabha elections in the constituency.
Dhananjay Singh, once associated with a criminal background but now a political figure, convened a gathering with his followers on Tuesday evening prior to announcing his allegiance to the BJP.
His endorsement holds considerable weight in the area, earning him the moniker of "kingmaker."
The BJP's candidate for Jaunpur is Kripa Shankar Singh, a former state minister in the Maharashtra government.
This announcement follows the recent cancellation by the BSP of Dhananjay Singh's wife Shreekala Singh's ticket for the Jaunpur Lok Sabha seat, a decision perceived by Dhananjay Singh as a deliberate attempt to disgrace him.
Expressing his discontent, he remarked, "My wife is deeply wounded by this act."
In response, the BSP has fielded its incumbent MP Shyam Singh Yadav for the seat.
Dhananjay Singh, who previously served as an MP from Jaunpur in 2009 under the BSP banner, lamented, "The BSP has betrayed me for the fourth time. In 2012, 2014, and 2017, the party assured me of a ticket but deceived me at the eleventh hour."
It's worth noting that earlier this week, the Lokayukta initiated an inquiry against Dhananjay Singh concerning allegations of an unlawful land transaction, a matter also under investigation by the Enforcement Directorate.
On March 6, a Jaunpur court handed Dhananjay Singh a seven-year prison sentence in a 2020 case involving the kidnapping and extortion of a Namami Gange project manager. However, on April 27, the Allahabad High Court granted him bail while declining his request to suspend or annul the sentence.
The polling for the Jaunpur constituency is scheduled for May 25.
In a parallel development, former minister Raghuraj Pratap Singh, commonly known as Raja Bhaiyya, convened a gathering with his supporters on Tuesday, declaring his neutrality towards any party and allowing his supporters the freedom to make their own decisions.
Raja Bhaiya, the leader of the Jansatta Dal, holds significant sway in Kunda and Babaganj, two Assembly segments under the Kaushambhi Lok Sabha constituency.
Vinod Sonkar, the BJP candidate in Kaushambhi, met with Raja Bhaiya earlier in the day to solicit his support.
Interestingly, both Dhananjay Singh and Raja Bhaiya held discussions with Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the past three days.
