Apna Dal(S) leaders approach BJP's brass amid strained ties

The ties between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Apna Dal (Sonelal) have come under a strain after the latter's leader and Uttar Pradesh minister Ashish Patel accused the state's information department and the special task force (STF) of hatching a "political conspiracy" against him.

- Smriti Kak Ramachandran and Rajesh Kumar Singh

Patel, who called on UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow on Friday night, arrived in Delhi on Saturday to meet BJP central leaders. Patel, along with his wife and Union minister of state Anupriya Patel, who is also Apna Dal (S) chief, is likely to meet Union home minister Amit Shah and BJP president JP Nadda, people familiar with the matter said.

Ashish Patel, who is UP's technical education minister, has been accused by his sister-in-law Pallavi Patel - a leader of rival faction Apna Dal (Kameravadi) and Sirathu legislator representing the Samajwadi Party - of irregularities in appointments and promotions in his department.