Neeraj Shekhar’s BJP move could boost party’s chances in Purvanchal

New Delhi: In a yet another key defection to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), senior Samajwadi Party (SP) leader and Rajya Sabha member Neeraj Shekhar switched sides on Tuesday.

Son of former prime minister Chandra Shekhar, the move of Neeraj Shekhar is crucial not just because he was a key face of the party but also because he is known to have a significant political hold on Eastern Uttar Pradesh’s purvanchal area which borders Bihar.

Shekhar is a two time Lok Sabha member representing Ballia constituency from Uttar Pradesh. The seat, which falls in Eastern Uttar Pradesh has been represented by his father too for eight terms.The denial of contesting this seat is seen as the beginning of the troubles between Shekhar and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav.

Shekhar had unsuccessfully contested the seat in 2014 but is known to have been keen on contesting again in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections. The seat has been with BJP for the past two terms now.

He joined BJP on Tuesday in the presence of party’s Working President, J P Nadda and other senior party leaders at its official headquarters in the national capital. According to senior BJP leaders, Shekhar could now be fielded as a Rajya Sabha MP from Uttar Pradesh.