2022 UP Election: Mulayam Singh Yadav’s Daughter-In-Law Aparna Yadav Joins BJP

In a major blow to Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party, former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav's daughter-in-law Aparna Yadav on Wednesday joined Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

New Delhi: In a major blow to Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party, former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav’s daughter-in-law Aparna Yadav on Wednesday joined Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the upcoming 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly Election. The development comes days after BJP saw back-to-back exits of ministers and party MLAs. Former UP ministers from Yogi Adityanath’s cabinet Dara Singh Chauhan and Swami Prasad Maurya joined Akhilesh Yadav ahead of the high-octane battle.

Aparna Yadav joined BJP in presence of Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya and BJP state president Swatantra Dev Singh. At the event, Aparna Yadav said she has always been impressed with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and added that the nation’s interest has always been her priority.

“I am very thankful to BJP. The nation always comes first for me. I admire PM Modi’s work,” Aparna Yadav said after joining the party.

I am very thankful to BJP. The nation always comes first for me. I admire PM Modi's work, Aparna Yadav said after joining BJP ahead of UP Assembly polls 2022 pic.twitter.com/hybygKL79G

— ANI (@ANI) January 19, 2022

Aparna Yadav is married to Prateek Yadav, son of Mulayam Singh Yadav’s second wife while Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav is his son from the first marriage.

There had been much speculation about her joining the BJP, and the development highlights the rift in the SP’s ruling family at a time when Akhilesh Yadav has been working to rally the party’s base in the run up to the state assembly polls. The BJP may field her in the polls, sources were quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

Aparna Yadav had contested the 2017 assembly polls on the Samajwadi Party ticket from Lucknow Cantt but had lost to BJP’s Rita Bahuguna Joshi, now a Lok Sabha member.

Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh will be held in seven phases beginning from February 10.