LUCKNOW/ALLAHABAD: The Mayawati-led BSP received yet another shock on Wednesday when party national general secretary and ex-MLA, Indrajeet Saroj, left the party accusing her of demanding money.

Saroj, who belongs to the Pasi sub-caste of the Dalit community, said Mayawati demanded Rs 9 lakh to 22 lakh from every assembly constituency. A four-time MLA from Manjhanpur assembly constituency in Kaushambi district, Saroj said he told Mayawati that he won't be able to arrange the money.

" I told her that I would not contest election but would continue to work as a party functionary. To this, Behenji got angry and told me that I don't need to work for the party as well...I had no other option but to leave the party," he said. BSP's zonal coordinator, Arvind Gautam said that Saroj left the party on his own and wasn't ousted from the party .

Saroj's decision to leave the party could potentially jolt BSP's attempt to consolidate the Pasi vote bank that constitute almost 15% to 18% of the total Dalit population in UP.

