A phase of stress migration has started in Rajasthan politics ahead of the Lok Sabha elections with a mega event at BJP headquarters here on Sunday that witnessed two former ministers among 25 Congressmen joining the BJP.
Lal Chand Kataria, and Rajendra Yadav, the two former ministers, two Mirdha family members, Jat leaders, Richpal and Vijaypal, and one former chairman of SC Commission Khiladi Lal Bairwa, were among the Congressmen who joined the BJP at the event attended by Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma and state party President CP Joshi.
Former Congress governor, deputy chief minister Kamla Beniwal’s son, former MLA Alok Beniwal, former district president Bhilwara Rampal Sharma, former MLA Phulera Ramnarayan Kisan, Sports Council Vice-President Anil Vyas, retired IAS Aunkar Singh Choudhary, District President Bharat Krishak Samaj Gopal Ram Kukna also wore saffron dupatta after mixing with Lotus.
In his welcome speech, Rajasthan CM said, “I welcome those who have joined (the BJP) for our ideology, PM Narendra Modi’s work, and BJP’s trust. I assure you that we will not let the spirit with which you have joined BJP under the leadership of Narendra Modi be broken… This is the time of India’s development.”
While the BJP is constantly expanding its base in the state, the Congress seems to be weakening due to the continuous exodus of its leaders.
Reacting to the development, Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly Tika Ram Jully said, “If the leaders are leaving the party, the party won’t incur any loss. It will be at a loss only when its karyakartas (workers) leave the party, but Congress’ karykartas are loyal to the party.
He said only those who are leaving Congress can tell if they are leaving out of fear or greed. The Congress has given them everything.
He pointed out, “BJP talks about ‘Congress Mukt Bharat’ but keeps inducting people from the Congress into its fold. What is left of the BJP’s ideology? They (the BJP) talk about ‘370 paar’ yet remain scared of a situation where they fail to win even 272 seats.”