Ahead of the crucial Assembly elections in Rajasthan, former BJP leader Manvendra Singh and son of veteran BJP leader Jaswant Singh formally joined the Congress on Wednesday after a meeting with party president Rahul Gandhi.
Mr. Manvendra Singh, MLA representing Sheo constituency had quit the BJP in September after being sidelined by the Vasundhara government.
In sharp contrast, the Congress announced his entry with a special press conference addressed by senior leaders including former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, State Congress chief Sachin Pilot and communications chief Randeep Surjewala among others.
The Congress sent out two clear political messages: to the Rajput community that had traditionally voted for the BJP and two, that supporters including family members of BJP’s tallest leaders like Jaswant Singh were being ignored under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah. “A man [Jaswant Singh] who had been country’s Finance Minister, Defence Minister and External Affairs Minister, who was Prime Ministerial material, had been targeted by the BJP in pursuance of a conspiracy,” said Mr. Gehlot.
The Congress also welcomed another former BJP MLA from Maharashtra, Ashish Deshmukh, representing Katol in the Vidarbha region, who resigned allegedly over the Rafale jet deal.