Amid the election buzz in Uttar Pradesh’s politics, the BJP has suffered its second major setback in a row in the Badaun and Rohilkhand region. After former Aonla MP Dharmendra Kashyap, former MLA from Badaun’s Bisauli assembly seat, Kushagra Sagar, has also resigned from the party’s primary membership and all responsibilities. He announced this on 21 October.

Pain Spills Over on Facebook

After resigning, Kushagra Sagar wrote a long and emotional post on Facebook. He wrote that staying associated with an organisation for 11 years with complete loyalty, dedication and honesty is not merely a political association but an emotional bond. Treating the organisation as family, he gave his 100% in every situation, but did not receive the respect and sense of belonging he expected in return.

He made it clear that his pain is not about not receiving a post or prestige, but about the breaking of the respect and trust that a person cherishes in his heart for years. However, he also expressed gratitude for the opportunities and experiences he received in the party.

Who Is Kushagra Sagar?

A well-known young face in Badaun district politics.

From a family with a political background, son of Yogendra Sagar, a prominent Dalit leader and former MLA of the region.

Won from the Bisauli (reserved) seat on a BJP ticket in the 2017 assembly elections.

The party fielded him again in 2022, but he lost by a narrow margin.

What Next?

Dharmendra Kashyap recently left the BJP and joined the Samajwadi Party. Following Kushagra Sagar’s sudden resignation, speculation is rife that he too may soon join the SP. If that happens, Badaun’s political equations could change rapidly.