Ahead of UP Assembly polls, former IPS officer Asim Arun joins BJP in Lucknow

Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], January 16 (ANI): Ahead of Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, former IPS officer Asim Arun joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday in the presence of Union Minister Anurag Thakur and other party leaders.
Welcoming Asim Arun to the party, Anurag Thakur said, "A person who is experienced, honest and is ideal for the youngsters is joining the BJP today. I welcome Asim Arun."
"BJP will move forward with his experience and more youths like him will join BJP," he added.
"I am happy, satisfied, I have got a chance to serve the public. This decision was not easy for me as on one side there was a job, on the other hand, there was an opportunity for public service," Asim Arun said while joining the party.
Meanwhile, BJP released its first list of 107 candidates for the upcoming Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh in which it denied tickets to 20 sitting MLAs and fielded 21 new candidates.
The party has released the list for the first and second phase of elections scheduled to be held on February 10 and 14.
Keeping the caste arithmetic balance and for gaining voters, BJP has fielded women on 10 seats, OBC candidates on 44 seats and scheduled castes (SC) candidates from 19 seats, accounting for 60 per cent of the total.
Elections for the 403 assembly constituencies in Uttar Pradesh will be held in seven phases starting February 10.
The polling in Uttar Pradesh will be held on February 10, 14, 20, 23, 27 and March 3 and 7 in seven phases. The counting of votes will take place on March 10. (ANI)