A day after the BJP's firebrand Kundanika Sharma defected to Uttar Pradesh's ruling Samajwadi Party and was named the Agra North assembly candidate, the BJP engineered the defection of Hemlata Divakar, the Samajwadi candidate from Agra Rural.
Divakar was formally welcomed into the party by Minister of State for Human Resource Development Ram Shankar Katheria, the Lok Sabha member from Agra.
Both Sharma and Divakar are expected to contest the assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh next year.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app