In setback to Mayawati, ex-UP minister's son quits BSP and joins Samajwadi Party
Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) suffered a setback in Bundelkhand ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, with former BSP minister Purshottam Dwivedi’s son Mayank Dwivedi quitting the party to join the Samajwadi Party on Saturday.
Mayank, who contested the 2024 Lok Sabha election from Banda on a BSP ticket and finished runner-up, joined the SP in Lucknow on Saturday in the presence of party president Akhilesh Yadav.
Mayank Dwivedi has been active in local politics in the Banda-Chitrakoot region. He is a Zila Panchayat member, while his wife also holds the position. His father, Purshottam Dwivedi, was an MLA and minister during the BSP government between 2007 and 2012.
The family's move to the SP comes as political parties begin preparing for the next Assembly election.
Speaking to India Today after joining the SP, Mayank explained his decision to leave the BSP, saying, "We had been continuously associated with the BSP since 2006. My father was an MLA from 2007 to 2012. My wife became a Zila Panchayat member in 2015, and I have been a member since 2021".
"We have worked continuously in the region. Ultimately, influenced by the policies of the SP national leadership and following the direction of Akhilesh Ydav, we joined the Samajwadi Party".
On the political challenge posed by the BJP in Banda and the wider Bundelkhand region, he said, "Work is simply not happening in the region. Many roads and other projects are still incomplete. Politics is being played in the name of religion and God, while elected representatives are not doing actual work on the ground. The public and farmers are facing genuine difficulties".
Mayank said he believed people in the region were looking towards the SP and Akhilesh Yadav.
"People are suffering and are not being heard. They are turning towards Akhilesh Yadav for support," he said, adding that he and his team would work to make Yadav the chief minister.
However, no Assembly constituency has been finalised for Mayank yet. "The national president has asked me to join the party and work. The leadership will assess the situation and decide where I am needed," he said.
On Bundelkhand's development, he said the region had generated substantial revenue through its natural resources but had remained relatively underdeveloped.
"Had the revenue generated from Bundelkhand been reinvested in the region, its situation would have been very different today," he said, pointing to education and healthcare as areas requiring greater attention.
Addressing the question of Brahmin representation within the SP's PDA narrative, Mayank said Akhilesh Yadav had described "P" as including "Pandit" and "Peedit". He said the party would seek support from people who felt distressed or neglected.
Mayank also said the 2027 campaign would extend to the digital space. "We will campaign using AI and social media. Our entire team will work with full dedication," he said.
The elections to the 403 Assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh are scheduled to be held in February – March next year. While Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will be seeking a third consecutive term in office, Akhilesh Yadav will be looking to unseat him and regain power. The Congress and the BSP are likely to play underdogs in the polls.- EndsPublished By: Vivek Published On: Sep 19, 2026 19:29 IST
