Brijlal Khabri quits BSP to join Congress, targets Mayawati

BSP national general secretary Brijlal Khabri on Monday joined Congress, accusing party supremo Mayawati of distributing party tickets in exchange of money, a charge made by some other leaders who had quit the outfit in recent months. Khabri, who joined the Congress along with former Uttar Pradesh Minister Dhruv Ram, told reporters at the AICC headquarters in New Delhi that everyone has to pay money to Mayawati for securing party ticket in elections at various levels.

"Neither any loyalist nor anyone from Mayawati's chamar community is exception to this rule of giving money for a BSP ticket," Khabri said, suggesting that he also had to fork out quite an amount for securing ticket for the 13th Lok Sabha election.

Dhruv Ram, a three-term MLA, said money was also sought from him despite being among those who protected Mayawati during the state guest house incident when she was attacked by Samajwadi Party workers. "They sought some amount saying some margin money is required," he said.

Both Khabri and Dhruv Ram also accused Mayawati of moving away from the principles of B R Ambedkar and Kanshi Ram.

Several BSP leaders, including Leader of the Opposition in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly Swami Prasad Maurya, have left the party in recent months making a scathing attack on Mayawati over the way she is running the organisation and accusing her of taking money for party tickets.

Congress General Secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad, who is in charge of party affairs in Uttar Pradesh, welcomed the BSP leaders into the party fold, in the presence of UPCC Chief Raj Babbar and state campaign committee chief Sanjay Singh.