In a surprise move, Uttar Pradesh unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) made Swati Singh, the wife of expelled party leader Dayashankar Singh, the president of the party's women's wing on Friday.
Dayashankar, former Uttar Pradesh BJP vice-president, was expelled by the party after his comments on the BSP supremo caused a nationwide controversy.
Swati, who had led a campaign against Mayawati and other leaders of her party for the "unsavoury" slogans against her minor daughter during a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) dharna in Lucknow, was made the president of the state BJP Mahila Morcha.
According to a party release, besides Swati, Uttar Pradesh BJP chief Keshav Prasad Maurya appointed MP Kaushal Kishore as the president of the party's SC Morcha and MP Chotey Lal Kharwar as the head of the party's ST Morcha.
Swati Singh of Ballia had come to prominence after she led a campaign demanding FIRs against BSP leaders who raised slogans targeting her minor daughter during a protest staged by the party against her husband's "derogatory" comments against Mayawati.
In poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, local parties BSP and SP are predicted to go neck and neck with BJP.
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