- Brajesh Pathak is now UP's Deputy CM with the BJP.
- Swami Prasad Maurya shifted from BSP to BJP, SP, and then AJP.
- Dara Singh Chauhan, Rajbhar, Masood also left BSP for other parties.
For decades, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) served as a major political platform for leaders seeking to establish themselves in Uttar Pradesh. However, internal rivalries, organisational changes and shifting political equations led several prominent leaders to part ways with the party. But over time, internal differences, leadership tussles and disagreements over party tickets led several prominent faces to walk away.
Founded by Kanshi Ram, the BSP grew into a major political force under his leadership and that of Mayawati. Over time, however, differences over leadership, political strategy and the distribution of party tickets prompted several prominent leaders to leave. By the 2017 Assembly elections, the BSP had already lost several leaders who had once been closely associated with Kanshi Ram and Mayawati.
While some were expelled over alleged indiscipline and anti-party activities, others left amid internal power struggles and disagreements with the party leadership.
With Uttar Pradesh heading towards the 2027 Assembly elections, the political journeys of these former BSP leaders offer a glimpse into the changing alliances and power dynamics that continue to define the state.
Here are five prominent leaders who left the BSP and went on to make their mark in the BJP, Samajwadi Party (SP), Congress and other political outfits.
1. Brajesh Pathak
Brajesh Pathak is now one of the most prominent faces of the BJP in Uttar Pradesh, serving as the state's Deputy Chief Minister. His political journey, however, began with the BSP, where he emerged as a prominent Brahmin leader and represented the party in Parliament.
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Pathak joined the BJP ahead of the 2017 Assembly elections, a move that marked a major turning point in his career. He soon rose through the party's ranks and eventually became Deputy Chief Minister, securing a place among the state's most influential politicians.
His departure from the BSP followed differences over the distribution of election tickets. According to BSP general secretary Satish Chandra Misra, Mayawati decided to expel him after he sought tickets for his wife, brother and brother-in-law during a meeting at the venue of a rally in Agra. Misra claimed that Mayawati had authorised him to announce Pathak's expulsion.
2. Swami Prasad Maurya
Swami Prasad Maurya is among the most prominent OBC leaders in Uttar Pradesh, and his political career has seen several shifts in party allegiance. Over the years, he has moved from the BSP to the BJP and then to the Samajwadi Party, before pursuing an independent political path.
Maurya spent a significant part of his career in the BSP, where he served as a five-time MLA and led the party in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly. In 2016, he left the BSP and joined the BJP, later becoming a minister in the Yogi Adityanath government, handling portfolios related to labour, employment and coordination.
Ahead of the 2022 Assembly elections, Maurya quit the BJP and joined the Samajwadi Party in January 2022. However, his association with the SP eventually ended, prompting him to pursue an independent political path.
Maurya also headed the Rashtriya Shoshit Samaj Party before launching his own political outfit, the Apni Janta Party (AJP).
As the 2027 Assembly elections draw closer, Maurya is once again looking at possible political alliance.
3. Dara Singh Chauhan
Dara Singh Chauhan is currently a member of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council and a cabinet minister in the BJP-led government headed by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
An influential Other Backward Classes (OBC) leader, Chauhan belongs to the Lonia-Chauhan community, which has a presence in parts of eastern Uttar Pradesh, including the Azamgarh and Varanasi regions. He has served as a member of both the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha.
Chauhan was once a prominent BSP leader and a close associate of Mayawati. He left the party in December 2014 after being expelled over alleged indiscipline and anti-party activities. He subsequently joined the BJP in 2015 and went on to serve as a cabinet minister in the state government.
Ahead of the 2022 Assembly elections, Chauhan left the BJP and joined the Samajwadi Party, aligning himself with leaders seeking to challenge the ruling party. However, his stint with the SP was short-lived, and he eventually returned to the BJP.
After his return, Chauhan secured a seat in the Legislative Council and was inducted into the state cabinet once again. His political journey reflects the shifting alliances and strategic realignments among influential OBC leaders in Uttar Pradesh.
4. Om Prakash Rajbhar
Om Prakash Rajbhar is the founder of the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP), which he established in 2002 after leaving the BSP. He currently serves as a minister in the Uttar Pradesh government, holding portfolios related to Panchayati Raj, minority welfare, Muslim Waqf and Haj. He also represents the Zahoorabad Assembly constituency in Ghazipur district.
Rajbhar began his political career with the BSP under the party founder Kanshi Ram. However, he parted ways with Mayawati in 2001 amid disagreements over political decisions and the distribution of election tickets.
One of the reported sources of friction was the renaming of Bhadohi district as Sant Ravidas Nagar. Rajbhar reportedly opposed the decision, believing it could weaken the political influence of the Rajbhar community. Differences over the party's approach and his political prospects further contributed to his exit.
After leaving the BSP, Rajbhar established the SBSP to build an independent political base among the Rajbhar community and other sections of the OBC electorate.
5. Imran Masood
Imran Masood is a Congress MP from Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, and the working president of the UP Congress Committee. During his political career, he has switched between the Congress, Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).
He joined the BSP in October 2022 and became its coordinator for western Uttar Pradesh. However, Mayawati later expelled him for alleged anti-party activities. His public praise for Rahul Gandhi was also reported to have created tensions with the BSP leadership.
After his expulsion, Masood returned to the Congress and continued his political career.
The journeys of these five leaders show that leaving the BSP has not necessarily meant an end to political influence. For some, the move opened doors to powerful positions in rival parties. For others, it provided an opportunity to build independent political bases or negotiate new alliances.