Kalyan Singh merged his Jan Kranti Party with BJP, restrained himself from Joining

Kalyan Singh, the former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh on 21 January 2013 merged his Jan Kranti Party with Bhartiya Janta Party. Singh merged his party with BJP during the Atal Shankhnaad Rally of BJP in Lucknow’s Jhelum Park.

He himself was unable to join the party himself as he is an independent MP from Etah Constituency and before joining the party it is required for him to resign from the membership of the house as it is an electoral cause under anti-defection law.

His resignation from the Parliament would have created a space for by-elections for the Etah Seat. Kalyan Singh left BJP before the Lok Sabha Elections of 2009 due to the differences with the senior leaders of BJP.

Anti-Defection Law

The Constitution (Fifty-Second Amendment) Act, 1985 Tenth Schedule, of the Defection Laws Articles 102(2) and 191(2)].

The provisions as to disqualification on ground of defection includes

Disqualification on ground   of defection -(1)  Subject  to  the provisions  of paragraphs 3, 4 and 5, a member of a House belonging to any  political  party shall be disqualified for being a member of  the
House-

(a)  If he has voluntarily given up his membership of such political party; or

(b)  If he votes or abstains from voting in such House contrary to any direction  issued by the political party to which he belongs or by any person  or  authority  authorised  by  it  in  this   behalf,   without obtaining, in  either  case, the prior permission of  such   political party,  person or authority and such voting or abstention has not been condoned  by such political party, person or authority within  fifteen days from the date of such voting or abstention.