New Delhi: Former Union Minister and senior Congress chief from Uttar Pradesh Jitin Prasada on Wednesday (June 9) joined BJP within the presence of Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal and Rajya Sabha member Anil Baluni at get together headquarters. The transfer got here as a giant jolt to the Congress get together no less than eight months ahead of the assembly elections in 403 seats in Uttar Pradesh. Sources within the BJP mentioned that he could also be requested to contest the upcoming state assembly polls in 2022 and that he would possibly play a job within the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
The Congress had earlier in 2019 survived a scare of Jitin Prasada switching sides to BJP after Jyotiraditya Scindia succeeded in stopping him from doing so. However, Scindia later joined BJP in March 2020.
Jitin Prasada’s father Jitendra Prasada was a outstanding ‘Brahmin’ face in Uttar Prasad, who challenged Sonia Gandhi’s management in 1999 and contested towards her for the publish of get together chief. He died in 2002.
Prasada, as soon as near Rahul Gandhi, was half of Group-23 (G-23) signatories who had written to Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi demanding sweeping reforms within the get together. Despite being a dissenter, he was tasked with the Congress marketing campaign in West Bengal, which turned out to be a disappointment. Taking a stand towards the get together, he opposed Congress’s alliance with the Indian Secular Front (ISF) in West Bengal.
Congress suffered an enormous loss with Jitin Prasada switching sides to BJP, for the reason that latter was a well-liked Brahmin face within the state. Speculation was rife even throughout the 2019 Lok Sabha elections about Jitin Prasada becoming a member of the BJP, however it’s believed that the Congress management had then managed to influence him towards quitting the get together. It is believed that Prasada had been reportedly disillusioned with the grand previous get together since 2019, the identical 12 months when he suffered a humiliating defeat within the Lok Sabha election and forfeited his deposit from Dhaurahra parliamentary seat. According to studies, then Congress basic secretary-in-charge Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was in favour of Prasada contesting towards Rajnath Singh from Lucknow. However, the provide didn’t please Prasada in any respect. In truth, he was additionally upset concerning the selection of Congress get together nominees from neighbouring Sitapur and Lakhimpur Kheri seats within the 2019 Lok Sabha election. Reports say he was snubbed by Congress high brass when he questioned the presence of two Muslims in neighbouring constituencies.
Speculations are there that BJP understands it that having Jitin Prasad ahead of the Uttar Pradesh assembly election will assist the get together pacify Brahmins within the state. A celebration insider mentioned that Prasada might be projected because the Brahmin face of the get together which is totally lacking in Uttar Pradesh. Rumours are additionally that the BJP had been figuring out sturdy faces from opposition events who’ve recently been unhappy of their get together.Â
The BJP high-command reportedly needs to carry such faces into the get together to realize majority numbers within the upcoming Assembly election of Uttar Pradesh. But on the identical time, BJP additionally must analyse that whereas politicians and leaders like Jitin Prasada are little question sturdy faces, however welcoming them into the get together might not make sure the requisite numbers throughout the election.
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