Jaswant Singh`s son and ex-BJP MLA Manvendra Singh joins Congress |
Veteran BJP leader Jaswant Singh`s son and ex-MLA Manvendra Singh joined the Congress on Wednesday, ahead of the assembly polls in Rajasthan in December.Singh, 54, who won Barmer`s Sheo constituency as the BJP candidate in 2013 assembly elections, had announced at a rally last month that he is leaving the Bharatiya Janata Party. “Kamal ka Phool Badi Bhool`, he had said then, claiming that going with the BJP`s election symbol, the lotus, was a “big mistake”.While Congress leaders asserted that the move will help bring Rajput votes to the party in the upcoming Vidhan Sabha elections, Rajasthan minister and BJP leader Rajendra Rathore said Singh`s exit will have “no effect in Barmer-Jaisalmer belt”.Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee president Sachin Pilot welcomed Singh into the party, saying it will strengthen the party. “There is a long list of leaders quitting the BJP and the party should introspect why this is happening,” he said. He added the party will ensure his active participation in the upcoming assembly elections in the state.In western Rajasthan, the Rajput vote is often considered a deciding factor on many seats.The Congress is also hoping to get the support of communities like the Rajpurohits, Charans and Prajapats with Singh joining the party.
|
|
|
|