15 Congress leaders join BJP in Jodhpur

Former MP Manvendra Jasol and MLA Ravindra Singh Bhati also met Bhajan Lal Sharma. (represent)

Jodhpur:

Fifteen Congress leaders joined the BJP in Jodhpur on Tuesday in the presence of Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma.

Talking to the media, Mr. Sharma took a jibe at the Congress party and said no one wants to be with a party that has no future.

“Before there was talk of a hole in Congress’s ship, but now their whole ship is sinking. Who wants to be in a sinking ship?” he said.

He said that judging by the arrival of Congress leaders, the BJP will not only win all 25 seats in the state but also win with a huge margin.

The defectors include Pappuram Dara, Hanuman Singh Khangta, President Marwar Rajput Mahasabha and former Close aide of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Suresh Gurjar and Sachin Pilot from Gautam (Nagaur) ·A confidant of Sachin Pilot.

Many leaders who were once considered Ashok Gehlot loyalists have left the party since the assembly elections.

These leaders include former mayor Rameshwar Dadhich and former RIICO director (independent) Sunil Parihar. Apart from them, few saw themselves drifting away from party activities.

On the other hand, former Congress MLA Manvendra Singh Jasol and Sheo MLA Ravindra Singh Bhati also met Chief Minister Sharma. They held a brief closed-door meeting.

Presumably, they may also join the BJP within a day or two.

Ravindra Bhatti also accompanied Mr Sharma to Udaipur, fueling speculation that he no longer posed a threat to the BJP as he had earlier hinted that he might serve as Balme Independents from Jaisalmer Lok Sabha constituency are contesting.

Ravindra Bhatti said: “The meeting was positive and the further results will be positive as well. I will talk to the people who brought me here and then I will come before you soon.”

Prior to this, Mr. Sharma arrived at a hotel along with Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and other leaders and met with the Lok Sabha chief, joint chiefs, coordinators and Jiao Tepur, Pali, Barmer-Jaisalmer and Jallore-Sirohi constituencies.

The meeting lasted about one hour and discussed preparations for the Lok Sabha elections.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)