Lucknow: Aparna Yadav, sister-in-law of Samajwadi Party chief, Akhilesh Yadav has tweeted a photo of seeking blessings of her father-in-law Mulayam Singh Yadav.

"Took the blessings of my father/Netaji in Lucknow after taking membership of the Bharatiya Janta Party," Aparna Yadav tweeted.

BJP has used this photo to woo the Samajwadi Party voters in the election. BJP supporter tweeted a reply to the photo, saying: "This means even Netaji (Mulayam Singh Yadav) wants the BJP to win."

Aparna Yadav is married to Akhilesh Yadav’s half brother Prateek Yadav, the son of Mulayam Singh Yadav’s second wife. Akhilesh Yadav replied for the defection of his sister-in-law to BJP, thanking the BJP, for reducing the burden of dynasts within his party.

"First of all, I would like to congratulate her and extend best wishes. I am also happy that our socialist ideology is expanding. I hope that our ideology will reach there and work to save the constitution and democracy," Mr Yadav said in his first response to Aparna Yadav joining the BJP.

"Netaji (Mulayam Singh Yadav) tried very hard to convince her," ,Mr. Akhilesh Yadav replied for her sister-in-law’s move to BJP.

Akhilesh Yadav said that his sister-in-law had upset with him for not being chosen as a Samajwadi Party candidate for next month’s Uttar Pradesh election. Aparna was contested in 2017 Assembly elections but lost to BJP’s Rita Bahuguna Joshi.