Kalyan Singh quits BJP

LUCKNOW: BJP Vice President and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh on Tuesday quit the BJP, resigning from all party posts, saying he was feeling "neglected" in the party.

In a letter to party president Rajnath Singh, the 76-year-old leader, who has been sulking over various issues, said he was feeling "unhappy" but could not compromise by continuing in the party.

He also told Rajnath Singh that he was returning the Etah Parliamentary seat for which he was nominated by the party for the coming Lok Sabha elections.

Kalyan Singh, who had met Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav on Sunday, had attacked the party last week on various issues. Yesterday, Mulayam Singh offered a Lok Sabha seat for his son Rajveer Singh on SP ticket.

Once the Hindutva face of BJP, who was the chief minister when the Babri Masjid was demolished in 1992, has been miffed with the party for nominating Ashok Pradhan, sitting MP from Bulandshahr seat. He has accused Pradhan of sabotaging his son Rajveer Singh's chances in the assembly elections two years ago from Diboi seat in Aligarh district.