Gurjar leader Bhati, nine others likely to join BJP

Lucknow: In what may snowball into a controversy, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s state unit has decided to induct a strongman from Gautam Budh Nagar, Narendra Bhati, along with nine other leaders from various parties.
Bhati, a Gurjar by caste, who was earlier with the Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Lok Dal and the Congress, was in the thick of controversy around an IAS officer in the previous government.His video of how he got the said IAS officer suspended had gone viral.BJP workers, especially from west UP where Bhati has his influence, are reportedly unhappy over the development.
Sources said a senior minister in the Yogi Adityanath government had been pushing for Bhati’s induction into the BJP for the last one year.
Among others who may join the BJP, most probably on Wednesday, include CP Chand, son of former minister Late Markandey Chand from Gorakhpur, Ravi Shanker Singh, the cousin of Rajya Sabha member Neeraj Chandrashekhar.
Sources said the BJP had started preparation for the election of local body MLCs, the election for which is likely anytime next year.
When contacted, a senior BJP leader tried to downplay the joining of Bhati and said he was being brought into the party fold after proper screening and he did not have any case against him.
Sources said Bhati’s induction was being done to pacify Gurjar voters who are unhappy after the controversy around the installation of the statue of Mihir Bhoj in Gautam Budh Nagar. Social media also remained abuzz after reports of Bhati’s possible induction into the BJP started doing rounds on Tuesday.