Samajwadi Party (SP) founding member and three-time MP from Lakhimpur Kheri Lok Sabha constituency Ravi Prakash Verma resigned from the membership of the party. Now he is preparing to join Congress. He was recognized as a big face of Kurmi community (OBC) in Samajwadi Party. This incident has come to light after the tussle between Congress and SP over seat sharing during Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections. Both the opposition parties are components of the India Alliance. Senior leader Ravi Prakash Verma left the SP along with his 33-year-old daughter Purvi, with both claiming that they were forced to take the decision. Because the party led by Akhilesh Yadav has allegedly become separated from the people on the ground and has deviated from its principles. Both of them will join Congress on Monday.
Ravi Verma is a well-known Kurmi face in the state.
Dr. Purvi Verma had contested the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from Lakhimpur Kheri seat on SP ticket, but lost to BJP leader Ajay Mishra Teni. According to the information, Verma family’s exit from SP is a big shock. Because he is a well-known Kurmi face in the state and belongs to a prominent political family. His father Balgovind Verma was a four-time MP from Lakhimpur Kheri and was a minister in the Indira Gandhi cabinet. After Balgovind’s death in 1980, his wife Usha contested and won thrice from the same constituency. Later, Ravi took over his political legacy by winning this seat thrice. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Verma was defeated by Ajay Mishra Teni in Lakhimpur Kheri. Purvi had to face defeat from the same seat in 2019 also.
Samajwadi Party has deviated from the core values of socialism – Purvi Verma
While talking to the media, Purvi Verma told that I had come into politics influenced by the work of Akhilesh Yadav, but now I am sad to say that the Samajwadi Party has deviated from the core values of socialism, which includes issues like farmers, unemployment, women’s security. Including raising voice for. People take things very seriously. BJP leaders go to the ground and they do not see our leaders coming. The public sees that the party leadership is not serious only about a few seats or people. Because of this the party has to pay the price.
The Verma family is returning home to the old party.
Ravi Verma echoing his daughter’s views said that today the party is trusting managers instead of leaders. At a time when BJP is forming booth committees, our district leadership is busy touring Lucknow because the party needs managers. These things create difficulties for those who have to contest elections on the ground. Referring to his family’s old relations with Congress, Purvi Verma said that he is returning home to the oldest party. According to the information, the Verma family has already met All India Congress Committee (AICC) chief Mallikarjun Kharge and AICC General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi.
We gave him everything, what more respect does he need – Rajendra Chaudhary
At the same time, Congress leaders claimed that other SP leaders are in touch with them, who may soon join the party. The SP hit back and alleged that Verma had left the party in his “personal interest”. SP further targeted Congress and said that instead of competing with BJP, it is causing harm to its allies. He said that we have to fight BJP as a member of India Alliance but instead Congress is targeting Samajwadi Party and breaking us. There is a coalition religion, which they remind us but they themselves forget. In the alliance we do not put pressure on our own partners. Whereas Samajwadi Party spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary said while talking to the media that as far as Verma is concerned, we gave him everything. We sent him to Rajya Sabha, we made him party general secretary. What more honor did he want than this? Chaudhary alleged that what Verma and Congress are doing is wrong and against political decorum.
There was a war of words between UP Congress President and SP chief
Let us tell you that this move of Verma has come amid increasing tension between Congress and Samajwadi Party over the failure of seat-sharing arrangement for Madhya Pradesh elections, in which both the alliance partners are contesting the elections separately. Due to this, a war of words started between Akhilesh and UP Congress President Ajay Rai and SP chief. Criticizing Madhya Pradesh Congress stalwarts Kamal Nath and Digvijay Singh, he was called a “Chirkut” leader. Whereas UP Congress State President Ajay Rai asked Samajwadi Party to cooperate in Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections because it has no base there. He also said that if the party wants to fight the ruling BJP then it should unite behind the Congress.