Lucknow: BJP’s Hardoi MP Anshul Varma sparked a controversy on Wednesday after he submitted his resignation to a ‘chowkidar’ (watchman) at the party office in Lucknow, days after he was denied a ticket by the BJP.

Varma also handed a Rs 100 note to the watchman. Varma, 44, who is a first time MP, said, “I have always done development. My name is Anshul. I won’t prefix chowkidar now.”

A few hours later, Varma reached the Samajwadi Party office along with Azam Khan and formally joined the party in the presence of its national president Akhilesh Yadav.

Speaking to reporters at the SP office, Varma said he had joined the party unconditionally and was ready to play whatever role the party deems fit for him.

The Hardoi MP lambasted the BJP for denying him ticket for 2019 polls despite having performed well in the sphere of development. He said BJP neither gave any reason for denying him ticket nor any top leader was ready to meet him on the issue. “In the first list, six sitting Dalit MPs were denied ticket. Claiming that poor performers were not being given another chance, the party has only tried to send across the message that Dalit MPs don’t work for people’s welfare,” Varma told reporters.

Taking a jibe at PM Narendra Modi’s Chowkidar campaign, Varma said he was among the few who refused to prefix ‘chowkidar’ before their names. “I challenge those who are adding chowkidar before their names to announce if they will make sure that their children, after completing education, will become chowkidars,” he said. Varma had recently locked horns with BJP leader Naresh Aggarwal over alleged distribution of liquor in Hardoi.