Talking to newsmen here Patel said he took this action to protest against the anti-people and pro-Bharatiya Janata Party policies of party president Mulayam Singh Yadav.

He alleged that the SP had deviated from its basic principles. Its activities were anti-minority, anti-backward and anti-Dalit. By not supporting the Congress party in the formation of the government at Centre, the SP had given another chance to the BJP and imposed mid-term polls on the people. He said Yadav had fielded dummy candidates in 22 Lok Sabha constituencies to pave the way for the victory of the BJP candidates.

On September one, senior Samajwadi Party leader and MLA from Allahabad west constituency, Atiq Ahmad, had resigned from the party and from the assembly to protest the alleged dictatorial attitudeof Yadav.

Patel, who was a senior leader of Bahujan Samaj Party and was its state president for 17 years before joining the SP said he had decided to support Apna Dal president and candidate Sone Lal Patel in Phulpur.

Patel, who won from Phulpur in 1996 and 1998 Lok Sabha elections as a SP candidate was denied the ticket this time.

He said SP general secretary Amar Singh was anti-backward and he played a vital role in denying him the ticket. If Amar Singh continued to play this role, it would not be long before the party would see its end.