Former Congress Punjab chief Sunil Jakhar joins BJP.
Highlights
- Sunil Jakhar, former Punjab Congress chief, joined BJP in presence of JP Nadda in Delhi
- Jakhar was removed from all party posts by Congress after allegations over anti-party activities
- He resigned from the Congress last week and lashed out at party leaders Channi, Ambika Soni
Sunil Jakhar, former Punjab Congress chief, on Thursday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the presence of party chief JP Nadda in Delhi, coming as another blow for the grand-old party.
Sources say that Jakhar may be nominated to the Rajya Sabha from some other state and also be handed over the party's responsibility for Punjab.
Welcoming Jakhar to the BJP fold, JP Nadda said, "He is an experienced political leader who made a name for himself during his political career. I am confident he will play a big role in strengthening the party in Punjab."
Hitting out at the grand-old party, JP Nadda said, "Congress is neither national, Indian nor democratic, it's reduced to 'Bhai-Behen' party. What has shrunk Congress is their activities. They sidelined objectivity, and prioritized subjectivity...Such parties are BJP's threats, we are fighting them."
Jakhar had quit the Congress last week after lashing out at former Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Twitter, saying that he was "not an asset" as portrayed by the party leadership.
A former Lok Sabha member, Jakhar was removed from all party posts by the Congress disciplinary committee following allegations of anti-party activities by certain Punjab unit leaders against him.
He also lashed out at veteran Congress leader Ambika Soni for her statement on the "repercussions of having a Hindu chief minister in Punjab".
Jakhar also held Soni's statement as one of the reasons for the Congress' drubbing in the Punjab assembly polls earlier this year.
Congratulating Sunil Jakhar, former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh said, "Right man in the right party. Congratulations to
@sunilkjakhar for joining @BJP4India. Honest and upright leaders like him cannot breathe in the @INCIndia anymore."
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