SP's ideological shift led to my departure: Neeraj Shekhar

Former SP leader and the newest entrant into the BJP, Neeraj Shekhar has claimed that SP drifted away from Dalits and other backward classes and that led to his departure. Shekhar joined the BJP in the presence of its general secretaries Bhupendra Yadav and Anil Jain.

New Delhi:Neeraj Shekhar, former Samajwadi Party leader who joined the Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday, claimed that ideological differences existing in the Samajwadi party led to his exit and his departure had nothing to do with Ballia Lok Sabha seat.

Shekhar joined the BJP in the presence of its general secretaries Bhupendra Yadav and Anil Jain, a day after resigning from Rajya Sabha as Samajwadi MP.

The former SP leader was fielded from Ballia seat in Uttar Pradesh until his defeat in 2014. Following which, he was listed as a Rajya Sabha candidate and was denied the seat his father and former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar held during his political tenure.

BJP sources said the party is likely to nominate him as its candidate for Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh.

Speaking to ETV Bharat, Shekhar claimed that he left the party following its departure from its ideological 'foundations.'

"The Samajwadi party used to stand with the Dalits. Its not the case today," Shekhar said.

"The party is in the state of constant decay. There is no one to lift the party and inspire its workers," Shekhar added.

Neeraj Shekhar further stated that he was impressed with the governance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the party and people across the nation are accepting the BJP.

On the question about the ideology of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the BJP, Neeraj Shekhar said that Hindutva narrative offered by the RSS is not against the nation.

"The party has received a stunning mandate in the general election. I cannot neglect that fact. People have faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP," Shekhar said.

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