The scion of erstwhile Amethi princely state, Anant Vikram Singh, on Sunday joined the BJP. This is being seen as a major blow to the Congress in its bastion as the 'Raja' of Amethi and Anant Vikram's father, Sanjay Singh, is the party's Rajya Sabha MP.
“Today, Anant Vikram Singh of royal family of Amethi along with his supporters is taking membership of the party and we welcome them in BJP,” party's Uttar Pradesh president Laxmikant Bajpai said while giving membership to Mr. Singh along with his supporters. Former BSP MLA Bhagwan Pathak and former vice-president of Samajwadi Party Brahmin Sabha Rajeev Shukla also joined the BJP.
Mr. Bajpai said the BJP was fast expanding its base in the state and all those taking membership would work for the expansion of the party to ensure party's victory in the 2017 Assembly polls. “Efforts should be made that maximum youths and women are made members at the booth level,” he added.
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Mr. Anant Vikram Singh joining BJP would make political contests interesting in Amethi which has long been bastion of the Congress and now being represented by party vice-president Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha. Mr. Sanjay Singh's children from his first wife Garima are now engaged in a fierce battle over control of assets of Amethi royalty and now also its political legacy. For the past few months, Amethi has seen this battle, mainly for control of Bhupati Palace, been fought in the streets, which has also claimed life of a policeman.