The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) finds itself in a difficult position in Lucknow’s Sarojininagar seat, where UP minister Swati Singh and her husband Daya Shankar Singh – state BJP vice president – have staked their claim. Swati won the Sarojininagar seat in 2017 after being propelled by the BJP in 2016, when Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leaders used lewd remarks against her and her daughter. This comes after Daya Shankar’s derogatory remarks on BSP chief Mayawati.
He was suspended from the party only to withdraw after a few months. He is currently the Vice President of UP BJP and in-charge of OBC Morcha.
Now both Daya Shankar and Swati are contesting from Sarojininagar seat, where polling is to be held in the fourth phase. Though the two could not be reached for comment, a senior party leader said the party leadership would take a final call on the issue.
A few days back, both Swati and Daya Shankar had put up hoardings in the assembly constituency, leaving people disappointed.
Daya Shankar has also been a member of a BJP committee overseeing the induction of prominent leaders of the opposition camp.
Daya Shankar is said to have played a key role in getting Aparna Yadav, the younger daughter-in-law of Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav, to join the BJP.