UP BJP president resigns from Yogi Cabinet

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Swatantra Dev Singh has resigned from Chief Minister Yogi-Adityanath-led Cabinet, official sources informed on Monday.

Mr Singh resigned from his post on Sunday after being appointed as the UP BJP president in July in accordance with BJP's principle of 'one man one post'.

He was the transport minister in UP ministry and his resignation was accepted by the Chief Minister immediately.

With his quitting, the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet now has 42 members, including CM Adityanath. The UP ministry can have 60 ministers as per the quota.

Mr Singh has been a two-time MLC from Uttar Pradesh and was the in-charge of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rallies during 2017 Assembly election in Uttar Pradesh.

He was also the in-charge of 'Shakti Booth' during Gujarat Assembly election. Before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, he was appointed as the in-charge of Madhya Pradesh.

By appointing Singh as the president of Uttar Pradesh unit of the BJP, the sources said, the saffron party is trying to consolidate the OBC vote bank in its favour as he hails from the Kurmi community. 

Mr Singh belongs to Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh but he has earned name as a political leader by working in Bundelkhand region of the state. 

In 2012 Assembly election, Singh had contested from Orai Assembly seat in Jalaun district of Uttar Pradesh but had to face defeat.(UNI)