New Delhi: Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh today (Feb 3, 2004) rejoined Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), from which he was expelled after the last Lok Sabha elections in 1999.

Singh joined the party at the BJP headquarters in the presence of general secretaries Pramod Mahajan and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Uttar Pradesh leaders Kalraj Mishra and Vinay Katiyar.

Prior to joining the party, he had a meeting with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani and party president M Venkaiah Naidu.

Along with Singh, former Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Balram Singh Yadav, a Lok Sabha member also joined the BJP.

Later, addressing a press conference at the party headquarters, Singh also announced the merger of Rashtriya Kranti Party, which he had formed after his expulsion, with the BJP and the resignation of two party ministers - PWD Minister Kusum Rai and Health Minister Rajbir Singh - from the Mulayam Singh Yadav-led coalition Government in Uttar Pradesh.

The party has four MLAs in the State Assembly.