Their tickets have been denied at the last minute and their over-confidence did not allow them to move to greener pastures. Now, with elections barely three weeks away, they find that they have nowhere to go.
Majority of those dropped from the BSP list are now finding themselves completely isolated. All other parties are displaying “housefull” boards outside their gates and some have even put up “no entry” boards for ex-BSP men.
In such a situation, these politicians have no option but to contest the elections as Independent and ensure their political survival.
Former higher education minister Rakesh Dhar Tripathi is one such legislator who has been denied the ticket by the BSP.
When Mr Tripathi was sacked from the council of ministers following an indictment by the Lokayukta, about three months ago, he should have read the writing on the wall. Now that his ticket has been cancelled, the former minister, two days ago, wept bitterly at a public meeting in his constituency and announced that he would contest as an independent.
Another BSP MLA Sushil Singh, who has been denied ticket, has declared that he would seek re-election from his Sakaldiha seat (earlier Danapur) as an independent.
Sacked BSP minister Avadh Pal Singh Yadav has also been left out in the cold after being denied ticket by the BSP. He was sacked after being indicted by the Lokayukta and is now preparing to contest as an Independent because he has no takers in other parties.
Anees Ahmad, alias, Phool Babu former BSP minister, is also finding it difficult to get into other parties and may finally contest as an Independent.
Another sacked minister Fateh Bahadur Singh has been knocking at the doors of the BJP and the Samajwadi Party but has not got a positive response.