Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh BJP receives one more blow after quitting of powerful OBC leader and minister Swamy Prasad Maurya, another OBC leader and minister in Yogi Adiyanath government, Dara Singh Chauhan resigns to the Cabinet.

The exit of OBC leaders from BJP brings shock to the ruling party just ahead of the Uttar Pradesh elections. Quitting of powerful OBC leaders from the party is considered a huge blow to the ruling party, as it seeks reelection in the state.

Both Maurya, Dar Singh Chauhan and four MLAs are likely to join Akhilesh Yadav headed Samajwadi Party. Soon after his quitting from the Cabinet, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav tweeted a photo with him and welcomed Mr. Chauhan to SP. 

"I worked with dedication but I am resigning as I am hurt by this government's oppressive attitude towards the backward, deprived sections, Dalits, farmers and unemployed youth and the neglect of quota for the backward and Dalits," Mr Chauhan wrote in his resignation letter, using almost the same language as Swami Prasad Maurya.

BJP is making a desperate attempt to prevent a mass exodus of OBC leaders from the party. BJP’s OBC leader and Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya requested Mr. Chauhan to reconsider his decision and stated that any hasty decision will blow of his political life in future.

"If any family member strays, it is very sad. I can only appeal to the respected leaders who are going, please don't get on a sinking ship or it will be their loss. Big brother Dara Singh, please reconsider your decision," Keshav Maurya tweeted.

Mr Chauhan, who is from eastern UP, joined the BJP in 2015 after quitting Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). He was a BSP MP from 2009 to 2014.

When he joined the BJP, he was made the national president of the party's OBC unit.

Along with Swami Prasad Maurya, four MLAs followed - Roshan Lal Verma, Brijesh Prajapati, Bhagwati Sagar and Vinay Shakya resigned to the party.

Soon after quitting Maurya from the Cabinet, Samajwadi party chief Akhilesh Yadav tweeted a photo of him with Maurya and welcomed the OBC leader to his party.

It may be recalled that OBC leaders who deserted the party has revolted against Yogi Adityanath and had complained to the leadership about his working style and his "arrogance".