Former BSP minister, others join Congress ahead of Uttar Pradesh assembly polls

Those who joined the party include Izhar-ul-Haq (BSP minister in the 1990s), Naeem Ahmed (1998 Lok Sabha candidate from BSP with over 100,000 votes in Amethi), Madan Mohan Sharma (former student leader and founder president of Shri Banke Bihari Educational Society, Khanichform Raspara, Agrahid Ras block). | Photo credit: Special arrangement

Former leaders of the Bahujan Samaj Party, including a former state minister and a former Lok Sabha candidate, were among dozens of political figures who joined the Uttar Pradesh Congress at its state headquarters on Sunday (September 27, 2026).

UP Congress leaders claimed that this was proof that the party was gaining strength and popular support, adding that the days of the ruling BJP in the state were numbered.

Those who joined the party include Izhar-ul-Haq, who was a minister in the BSP government in the 1990s; Naeem Ahmed, who contested the 1998 Lok Sabha elections on a BSP ticket, polled more than one lakh votes in Amethi; Madan Mohan Sharma, former student leader and founder president of Shri Banke Bihari Educational Society Agra; and Rashid Khan, former block chief of Nanpara in Bahraich district.

Wide support

UP Congress president Ajay Rai welcomed the newcomers at the party and said they represent the diversity of support for the Congress in the state.

“A huge political gathering was witnessed today at the state headquarters in Lucknow. Many prominent leaders from various parties and social groups along with hundreds of their supporters formally joined the Congress party. Our new colleagues have become primary members of the party and on behalf of the entire Congress family, we wholeheartedly welcome and congratulate the new leaders and workers,” he said. “Various social groups and communities in Uttar Pradesh are firmly behind the leadership of Rahul Gandhi Ji. The alliance also means that the minority community, backward, Dalits and upper castes are fully with Rahul Gandhi’s ideas,” he added.

Mr Haq and Mr Ahmed both have a “strong social base in their respective regions”, he noted. “The wind of change is clearly blowing in Uttar Pradesh now. This historic struggle for human rights, youth future and social justice will get a new direction and boundless energy under the leadership of Rahul Ji,” he added.

‘UP waiting for change’

This comes days after former MP Amir Alam Khan and his son, former MLA Nawazish Alam Khan, joined the Congress on September 24 along with leaders of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), Azad Samaj Party (ASP), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD). Mr. Amir Alam Khan previously represented Kairana in the Lok Sabha as a Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) MP and was also a Rajya Sabha MP and three-term MLA.

“These connections are a clear sign that Uttar Pradesh is waiting for a change and wants to topple the BJP government. With the Bharat Jodo Yatra, the Muslim community and the people of the country in general having full faith in the leadership of the Congress party, only the grand old party can protect the country’s pluralistic, democratic structure from the authoritarian tendencies of BJP national secretary Shahna.”

Published – 27 Sep 2026 22:24 IST