Brajesh Pathak (R) with BJP chief Amit Shah and Mahesh Sharma after joining the party on Monday.
A day after attending BSP chief Mayawati launched the party's election campaign in Agra, two-time lawmaker and her key lieutenant Brajesh Pathak joined the BJP, expressing faith in its "developmental" agenda for poll-bound Uttar Pradesh.
He was the second key leader to leave the party for the BJP -- Swami Prasad Maurya had joined the BJP earlier this month. Assembly polls in UP are scheduled to take place next year.
Mr Pathak, who had attended the Agra rally on Sunday, joined BJP in presence of party chief Amit Shah and Union minister Mahesh Sharma. While he was at the BJP headquarters fulfilling his joining formalities, BSP expelled him for the party, apparently after coming to know of his plans.
But unlike some BSP leaders, including Swami Prasad Maurya, who tore into chief Mayawati as they joined BJP, Mr Pathak did not attack her but said nepotism, corruption and goondaism ruled the roost in the state.
"I thought any delay will be harmful. Only Prime Minister Narendra Modi's developmental agenda and Amit Shah's efforts can rescue UP," he told reporters in Delhi.
Asked about his presence in the BSP rally on Sunday and he joining BJP is less than 24 hours, Mr Pathak said he was doing his job in BSP as long as he was there.
He said he had played a role in swinging Brahmin voters to BSP during the 2007 Assembly polls, but Brahmins were disappointed by the party. Mr Sharma said Mr Pathak's joining BJP will help the party consolidate Brahmin votes. Other party leaders described him as a "pillar" in the Hardoi-Unnao region of Uttar Pradesh.
The BJP is counting on the former Unnao Lok Sabha MP and now a sitting Rajya Sabha member to help it win over Brahmin voters, who are also being wooed by Congress.