BSP’s Danish Ali joins Congress, may contest from UP’s Amroha

BSP Lok Sabha MP Danish Ali joined Congress here on Wednesday. He might contest the Lok Sabha election from Amroha in Uttar Pradesh. He said the choice was very clear after joining the grand old party. Ali’s recent appearance at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra had fuelled speculations that he would be fielded by the Congress from the seat.

After joining the Congress, he said, “Today was a time to take a decision. On one hand, there are divisive forces in the country, and on the other, there are people who are struggling to give justice to the poor, deprived, and downtrodden. The choice is very clear.”

Recently, Ali also met former Congress president Sonia Gandhi at her residence in the national capital and sought her ‘blessings’. Ali is likely to contest from Amroha on a Congress ticket. He said the decision on his contest would be taken by the Congress leadership. Under the I.N.D.I. block, the Congress is fighting for 17 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh out of 80 in alliance with the Samajwadi Party.

Earlier, BSP president Mayawati had suspended Danish Ali a day after he spoke out in support of Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra in the cash-for-query case last year, spelling out the ‘anti-party activity’ as the reason for the action against him. “You were warned many times against statements or actions against the policies, ideology, and discipline of the party. But, despite that, you have continuously been acting against the party,” the BSP said in a statement.