Lucknow, Nov 2 (IANS): Former Congress MP Annu Tandon, along with her supporters, formally joined the Samajwadi Party on Monday.

She said that SP President Akhilesh Yadav was the main reason for her joining the party because she had seen his working as the Chief Minister. "He is young, educated and a visionary. In the prevailing circumstances in the country and the state, we need to strengthen secular forces," she said.

She said that she had been in the Congress for almost 15 years and had received a great deal of affection from the Gandhi family, but she was not being allowed to work by the state leadership.

Annu Tandon and her supporters had resigned from the Congress on October 29. Her resignation came days before Bangarmau, an Assembly seat in Unnao, goes to bypolls.

Tandon has been an MP from Unnao and enjoys considerable support in the constituency.

Meanwhile, Akhilesh Yadav welcomed Annu Tandon in the party and said that even when she was in the Congress, the people of Unnao always spoke of the immense work she had done in her constituency.

"I am happy that we now have a leader who is connected to people at the grassroots level," he said.

Akhilesh Yadav said that the state needed a change urgently.

"A leader who says 'Thok do' cannot work for the welfare of the people. The medical services are in disarray and people deserve a better deal," he said.