Former Union minister Jitin Prasada – considered once close to Rahul Gandhi – joined the Bharatiya Janata Party today. This is being seen as a setback to the Congress ahead of the Uttar Pradesh election next year. Prasada was a known face of the Congress in the state.
He has been a minister twice in the Manmohan Singh-led Congress government and was considered one of Rahul Gandhi’s close aides.
At the BJP headquarters in New Delhi on Wednesday, Prasada formally joined the party and said: “BJP is the only real political party and the only national party. The rest are all regional. Only the party and the PM that can meet the challenges the country is facing now.” Talking about his disgruntlement with the Congress party, he said that he was unable to work for the people.
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Last year, the Congress’ Jyotiraditya Scindia left the party and joined the BJP. There were rumours in 2019 that Prasada may leave the Congress. However, it did not happen at that time.
For the BJP, Jitin Prasada’s joining is a gain as the UP government led by Yogi Adityanath, is facing the ire of people in the face of the COVID-19 crisis.
