Ex-BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha Joins Cong, to Fight From Patna Sahib

His switch comes days after he was denied a ticket from Patna Sahib by the BJP.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi with Shatrughan Sinha.

(Photo Courtesy: Twitter/@INCIndia)

Disgruntled Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Shatrughan Sinha on Saturday, 6 April, officially joined the Congress party and will fight from Bihar’s Patna Sahib seat from where he has been an MP twice but was denied a BJP ticket this year. He will be pitted against Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad.

In a press conference held in New Delhi, Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala and party General Secretary KC Venugopal welcomed Sinha into the party’s folds. While speaking to the media, Sinha made a gaffe when he said, “Shaktisinh Gohil ji (Bihar Congress In-charge) has been backbone of BJP in Bihar and in Gujarat.” He corrected himself later.

Citing examples of sidelined BJP leaders like LK Advani and MM Joshi, Sinha alleged that the saffron party has become a “one-man show and two-man army” and said that it was really “unfortunate” that he had to completely cut off ties with the BJP on their Foundation Day.

Sinha said he was considered a “rebel” in the party because he always spoke the truth and criticised the bad policy decisions by the BJP government like demonetisation, GST.

Earlier, on 28 March, Sinha met Congress President Rahul Gandhi, following which he had said, “we will give you positive news during Navratri.”