The Bahujan Samaj Party on Monday suffered a setback in the Bundelkhand region when one of its sitting legislators joined the ruling Samajwadi Party ahead of Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh.

R K Singh Patel, a sitting MLA from Chitrakoot-Karvi, joined SP in the presence of state PWD Minister Shivpal Singh Yadav.

Talking to reporters in Lucknow, Patel alleged that BSP president and former chief minister Mayawati was selling tickets for the Assembly elections, but not giving it to deserving "grassroots level" workers.

"I was given a ticket by the late Kanshi Ram for my selfless work for the party. Now, tickets are being sold to the highest bidder," said the two-time MLA and former state minister.

Yadav claimed that BSP was taking Rs 50 lakh per ticket for the Assembly elections.

To a poser, Yadav ruled out rebellion by party cadres following the party's decision to induct leaders from opposition parties, including the Congress, BSP and Bharatiya Janata Party.