English
English
English
Former Aonla MP Dharmendra Kashyap (Img: Dynamite News)
Lucknow: Former Aonla MP Dharmendra Kashyap has announced his exit from the Bharatiya Janata Party, a day after his cryptic ‘Tata Bye-Bye’ social media post triggered speculation about his political future in Uttar Pradesh.
Kashyap confirmed his decision to leave the BJP on Wednesday, saying he would now consult his supporters before deciding his next political move. His resignation has added a fresh twist to the political developments in Bareilly and Aonla.
Kashyap had shared a brief ‘Tata Bye-Bye’ message on Facebook on Tuesday, without naming any political party or leader. The cryptic post immediately triggered speculation about whether he was preparing to leave the BJP.
The post came amid discussions over the BJP’s Uttar Pradesh Rajya Sabha candidates. Kashyap had reportedly been among the names being discussed for the Upper House, but his name did not feature in the party’s announced list.
Announcing his decision, Kashyap reportedly expressed dissatisfaction over the treatment of those who had opposed him during the 2024 Lok Sabha election.
He said people who had worked against him during the election were later given important positions in the party. According to Kashyap, he found this difficult to accept and felt that the issue had not been addressed.
His remarks have brought internal party dynamics and the 2024 Aonla election defeat back into focus.
While Kashyap has confirmed that he is leaving the BJP, he has not revealed which political party, if any, he plans to join next.
The former MP said he would first hold a meeting with his supporters and seek their opinion before taking the next step. This has kept the political suspense alive in Bareilly.
Speculation about a possible move towards the Samajwadi Party has also intensified following his BJP exit. However, Kashyap has not officially announced any decision to join the SP.
Dharmendra Kashyap represented the Aonla Lok Sabha constituency as a BJP MP after winning the seat in 2014 and 2019.
However, he lost the 2024 Lok Sabha election to Samajwadi Party candidate Neeraj Maurya. Kashyap had also been associated with other political parties, including the Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party, earlier in his political career.
His decision to quit the BJP now comes at a politically significant time in Uttar Pradesh, with attention already focused on the state's evolving political equations.
For now, Kashyap's next move remains under wraps. His upcoming meeting with supporters could provide the first major indication of where his political journey heads next.
