Uttar Pradesh: Top SP leaders join Congress

Two days ahead of Rahul Gandhi's scheduled visit to Kheri, some of senior leaders from Uttar Pradesh, mainly from Samajwadi Party, on Saturday joined the Congress.

Former state minister Banshi Dhar Raj (SP), Kheri Zila panchayat chairperson Anita Giri (SP) and MLC Dhirendra Bahadur Singh (SP) joined the Congress, in the national capital, Congress leaders said. The leaders had left the SP last week after their serious differences with local party leaders.

Banshi Dhar Raj, who returns to the Congress, had joined SP after parting ways from it in 2002. Two other leaders -- ex-minister Ram Krishna and Jila Parishad chairman Ajay Bhargava (both from Sitapur) – also joined Congress.

DCC chief Iqbal Ahmad said AICC chief Sonia Gandhi and general secretary Digvijay Singh had approved the membership of these leaders.