According to sources, at least eight of the nine MLAs who resigned from the Bharatiya Janata Party in a flurry of resignations in recent days are anticipated to join the Samajwadi Party (SP) on Friday in the presence of former CM Akhilesh Yadav.
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Dharam Singh Saini, Minister for Ayush and MLA from Nakur constituency in Saharanpur, Mukesh Verma, MLA from Shikohabad in Firozabad, and Awasthi Bala Prasad, MLA from Dhaurahra in Lakhimpur, all resigned from the BJP on Thursday, claiming that the BJP government had failed to work for marginalised communities in the previous five years.
Following a meeting on Thursday, the BJP is said to have finalised their candidates for 172 assembly seats in the state, and is anticipated to reveal the list in the coming days. As per the sources, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is expected to elect from Ayodhya, while Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya will participate from Sirathu.
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Meanwhile, the Election Commission will publish the first part of the UP polls notification today. Nominations for the first phase must be submitted by January 21.
