District BJP president Ravinder Pal Singh of Kalyan Singh's home constituency put in his papers followed by the resignation of district general secretary Ravi Kant Arya.

A dozen other party office bearers of the district mainly from Atrauli and Harduaganj areas also quit, sources said. In Atrauli, the hometown of Kalyan Singh, an effigy of BJP national president Rajnath Singh was burnt, they said.

The local BJP leaders have, however, denied resignation of Aligarh Mayor Ashutosh Varshney, who is considered close to Kalyan Singh.

Varshney, when contacted, refused to comment on the matter.

Political observers said Kalyan Singh's newfound friendship with the SP could disturb political equations in a number of western Uttar Pradesh districts especially in Etah, Aligarh and Bulandshahr.