SUMAN K SHRIVASTAVA
Ranchi, March 20: BJP MLA from Mandu JP Patel today joined Congress. Patel, son of JMM founder member Teklal Mahto, joined the Congress in a programme organised at the party headquarters in Delhi.
During this, national leader Pawan Khera, Congress in-charge of Jharkhand Ghulam Ahmed Mir, Parliamentary Affairs cum Rural Development Department Minister in Jharkhand Government Alamgir Alam and State Congress President Rajesh Thakur were present.
JP Patel is likely to be the party’s candidate from Hazaribagh.
Meanwhile, the former BJP MLA from Madhupur Raj Paliwal will likely join the Congress.
Patel joined BJP in 2019
Patel joined the BJP before the 2019 assembly elections and won the Mandu seat. He belongs to the Kurmi caste, which has a sizeable chunk of votes after tribals in Jharkhand.
Patel wanted a BJP LS ticket
According to sources, Patel had been upset with the BJP leadership for quite some time. He wanted to be the leader of the Opposition in Jharkhand. However, the BJP chose Amar Bauri for the job. This time, he tried to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Hazaribag, but the party gave a ticket to Hazaribag MLA Manish Jaiswal.
BJP plays down Patel’s exit
The BJP played down the impact of Patel’s resignation. “It will make no impact. Rather, his decision to jump to a sinking ship will spoil his career,” said BJP MP and former party president Deepak Prakash.
No wonder the leader of the Opposition, Amar Bauri, immediately sent a letter to the Speaker to disqualify him.
Patel praises Rahul
In the meantime, Patel praised Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Nyay Jodo Yatra and expressed confidence that the INDIA alliance will win all 14 seats in the Jharkhand Lok Sabha elections.
He added that he didn’t join the party under any pressure but for Jharkhand’s better future, to complete his father’s dreams, and to strengthen the INDIA alliance in the country.
“I don’t care about my post; I want to save Jharkhand,” he said.
