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The three legislators were elected on SP tickets in the 2022 Uttar Pradesh elections but fell out with the party leadership after cross-voting during 2024 Rajya Sabha polls.
Abhay Singh, who represents the Gosainganj Assembly constituency in Ayodhya district, launched a fresh attack on his former party, declaring that he would work to defeat the SP. (Photo: X)
In a setback for the Samajwadi Party (SP) ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, three rebel MLAs — Abhay Singh, Rakesh Pratap Singh and Vinod Chaturvedi — joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday, October 14. Their induction formalises a political split that dates back to the February 2024 Rajya Sabha elections, when the legislators cross-voted in favour of the BJP’s candidate.
Abhay Singh, who represents the Gosainganj Assembly constituency in Ayodhya district, launched a fresh attack on his former party, declaring that he would work to defeat the SP. The induction is being seen as part of the BJP’s efforts to strengthen its position in key constituencies ahead of the next Assembly elections.
The three legislators were elected on SP tickets in the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections but fell out with the party leadership after cross-voting during the February 2024 Rajya Sabha polls. In June 2025, the SP expelled Abhay Singh and Rakesh Pratap Singh, along with former MLA Manoj Pandey, over alleged anti-party activities.
The three MLAs have political bases in different parts of the state. Rakesh Pratap Singh represents Gauriganj in Amethi district, Abhay Singh represents Gosainganj in Ayodhya, and Vinod Chaturvedi represents Kalpi in Jalaun district.
Their entry gives the BJP an opportunity to tap into their local political networks as parties begin preparing for the 2027 Assembly elections. However, the electoral gains will depend on whether the leaders can bring their existing support bases into the BJP fold and work effectively with the party’s organisational structure.
For the SP, the defections revive questions about the lasting impact of the 2024 Rajya Sabha rebellion and its ability to retain influential regional leaders ahead of the next electoral contest.
The timing of the switch is significant, with both the BJP and the SP beginning to position themselves for the 2027 polls. Dismissing the political significance of the defections, SP spokesperson Udayveer Singh compared the expelled leaders to an appendix that had already been removed from the party. The remark underscored the SP leadership’s attempt to downplay the impact of their departure.
At A Glance
Three rebel Samajwadi Party MLAs joined the Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday, October 14.
The political split dates back to the February 2024 Rajya Sabha elections when the legislators cross-voted for the BJP.
The SP expelled Abhay Singh and Rakesh Pratap Singh in June 2025 over alleged anti-party activities.
For the BJP, the immediate challenge will be to translate the three legislators’ local influence into electoral gains. Their induction could alter political calculations in parts of Awadh and Bundelkhand, although the broader impact of the move will become clearer as the 2027 Assembly elections approach.
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Ask News18Three rebel Samajwadi Party MLAs — Abhay Singh, Rakesh Pratap Singh, and Vinod Chaturvedi — officially joined the Bharatiya Janata Party on October 14, 2026.
Ask News18October 14, 2026, 18:03 IST
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