A third minister has quit from the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh in as many days. After labour minister Swami Prasad Maurya on Tuesday, forest and environment minister Dara Singh Chauhan on Wednesday, it was the turn of Ayush, food security and drug administration minister Dharam Singh Saini to resign on Thursday.
In his resignation letter to the Uttar Pradesh governor, Saini alleged that the BJP government had neglected the welfare of the dalits and backward classes. Similar allegations were made by Maurya and Chauhan in their respective resignation letters.
Interestingly, on Wednesday, Saini had denied speculation he was quitting the BJP. Saini, an OBC leader and four-time MLA from Nakud, had criticised Maurya for leaving the government.
NDTV reported Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had reached out to Saini to persuade him to stay.
As was the pattern with Maurya and Chauhan, Samajwadi Party supremo Akhilesh Yadav welcomed the news of Saini's resignation and shared an image of him with the OBC leader.
Akhilesh wrote, “With the arrival of Dr. Dharam Singh Saini ji, another warrior of 'Social Justice', our 'positive and progressive politics' has got more enthusiasm and strength. Hearty welcome and greetings to him in SP! In twenty-two [2022 assembly polls], the victory of inclusive-harmony is certain!”
Like Maurya, Saini had joined the BJP from the BSP in 2016.
