Ashok Pradhan joins SP, attacks BJP

He held Telecommunication and IT ministry as Union state minister in former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vaypayee Cabinet.

On BJP leader Amit Shah's recent statement, Pradhan said the statement showed his mentality and the “autocracy” they are trying to bring if voted to power.  

“How can you talk of dismissing the government elected by the people.

This shows his mentality, the autocracy that they are trying to bring if voted to power,” Pradhan, who was denied the BJP ticket, said.

“This is not only my pain. Other leaders in the BJP are also pained due to the current state of affairs in the party,” he said, adding that he did not join the SP for the Lok Sabha ticket.