Lucknow, Sep 29 (IANS) Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati Thursday suspended legislator Jitendra Kumar Singh Babloo from the party for anti-party activities.

Babloo is the 12th party legislator to be suspended by her over the past four years.

Making the announcement here, state BSP president Swami Prasad Maurya said: ‘Action against Babloo was ordered by our party’s national president because of his anti-party activities as well as his continued involvement in unlawful activities.’

Babloo had switched loyalties and joined the Peace Party, which is gradually making inroads into eastern Uttar Pradesh. Babloo got elected from Bikapur constituency in Faizabad district on the BSP ticket.

He was also among the key accused in the arson and violence carried out at the residence of state Congress president Rita Bahuguna Joshi in 2009 after she made a statement against Mayawati.

He was then promptly rewarded by the chief minister, who appointed him as chairman of a public undertaking and bestowed him with the rank of a minister of state.