Prior to the Lok Sabha elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Uttar Pradesh has suffered a major setback. BJP MP from Prayagraj Shyam Charan Gupta resigned from the party. Gupta now has the support of the Samajwadi Party of Akhilesh Yadav. The SP has also made him a candidate from Banda. Shyama Charan Gupta is currently MP from Prayagraj BJP in Uttar Pradesh. Now he will contest in the Loksabha elections from Banda on SP ticket.

The announcement of Mr. Gupta's switch comes hours before the BJP is to release its first list for the Lok Sabha elections.

Shyam Charan Gupta is BJP's senior leader. He has started his political journey from being elected as a Mayor to MP.

Contesting from the BJP, in 1989, he became the Mayor. Then again in 1991, he contested from Allahabad parliamentary constituency. In 1995, his wife Jamunotri Gupta has also contested mayor's election from the BJP.

Shyama Charan also contested in the Assembly election from the BJP. He was displeased with his party leaders about the Lok Sabha ticket leading him to take the road to the SP.