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Sheela Bhatt in New Delhi
Naresh Agarwal, former Uttar Pradesh energy minister and founder of the Loktantrik Congress Party, which expelled him last week, denied rumours on Thursday that he had joined the Samajwadi Party.
Agarwal told rediff.com, "It's a lie. Neither have I joined the SP nor am I planning to join them. I [just] want to fight the Bharatiya Janata Party."
Asked how he planned to do that, now that he has been isolated even within his own tiny party -- all but one of his 19 legislators have parted company with him -- he retorted, "You don't fight with the help of ministers, you fight with the help of workers. The ministers may not be with me, but my workers are supporting me."
Agarwal, who was sacked by Chief Minister Rajnath Singh before he could resign, said, "I have never lost confidence. I'll take on the BJP government on the issue of their failure on the agriculture and economic fronts."
He insisted that the chief minister would have no option but to dissolve the assembly next month. "He will remain a caretaker CM," Agarwal said. "Our assembly completes five years in October. It's possible he might fix the election dates somewhere in February."
Asked about Singh's allegation that Agarwal is now worth Rs 100 crore [about $21.23 million], Agrawal retorted, "People even malign the prime minister. I challenge him [Singh] to institute an inquiry."
Agarwal claimed that there would be a major realignment of political parties in Uttar Pradesh and only thereafter would the voters, particularly Muslims, express their preferences.
EARLIER REPORTS: LCP minister resigns, joins Samajwadi Party LCP office becomes a bone of contention LCP splits, Naresh Agarwal expelled 'Rajnath spiked Agarwal's plan to embarrass BJP' Naresh Agarwal sacked from Uttar Pradesh government
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