Congress MLA Rajendra Singh Bhandari joined the BJP on Sunday, saying he was impressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s management which motivated him to take the step. Bhandari, who’s learnt to have resigned from the Congress earlier than becoming a member of the BJP, represents the Badrinath seat within the Uttarakhand Assembly.
A 3-term Congress legislator who was additionally a minister within the state previously, joined the saffron celebration within the presence of senior BJP leaders, together with Union Minister Piyush Goyal and the celebration’s nationwide basic secretary and BJP’s in-charge for Uttarakhand Dushyant Kumar Gautam.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and BJP chief spokesperson Anil Baluni, who will contest his first Lok Sabha election from the Garhwal seat in Uttarakhand, have been additionally current on the event.
Bhandari received the Badrinath seat by defeating the BJP’s Uttarakhand unit chief Mahendra Bhatt by a small margin within the 2022 Assembly polls.
Badrinath is one of the 14 meeting segments which falls below the Garhwal Lok Sabha constituency from the place the BJP’s Anil Baluni will contest the parliamentary election this time. Of these 14 meeting segments, Badrinath is the one seat which is with the Congress.
The relaxation are with the BJP.
Addressing a press convention with the BJP leaders right here, Bhandari mentioned that he determined to affix the ruling celebration after being impressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s management and the work carried out by his authorities for the nation’s progress within the final 10 years.
“I am very much impressed with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s policy for the welfare of the poor people. Under his leadership, a continuous journey of development is going on across the country. I want to contribute to making India a developed country by 2047, a goal set by Prime Minister Modi,” he informed reporters on the BJP headquarters.
“I want to assure the party that I will work with complete dedication for the progress of the country and Uttarakhand, and serve the people as well,” Bhandari mentioned.
“Baluni ji has been fielded as BJP candidate from Garhwal. He is a man with a clean image. I want to assure you that I will work day and night. I am confident that he will emerge victorious (in the Lok Sabha polls) with lakhs of votes,” Bhandari added.
Welcoming him to the BJP fold, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Dhami mentioned Bhandari has joined the celebration as he was “impressed” by the work carried out in Badrinath and throughout Uttarakhand below Prime Minister Modi’s management, be it the implementation of the Centre’s Char Dham challenge, redevelopment of Kedarnath and different improvement initiatives within the state.
Though there was already a “positive atmosphere” in favour of the BJP in Uttarakhand, it’s going to get an extra enhance within the state, together with within the Garhwal Lok Sabha constituency, with Bhandari becoming a member of the “BJP family”, Dhami mentioned.
“We are going to win all five Lok Sabha seats in Uttarakhand with big margins,” he informed reporters.
Piyush Goyal mentioned Bhandari has been a “popular and influential” chief in Uttarakhand because of the work he did in varied capacities. “For several years, he has served Badrinath and won the hearts of people. He was elected to the state assembly three times, which shows that his popularity and influence are still growing due to his work.”
He hoped that Bhandari would proceed to serve folks with the identical dedication whereas being with the BJP.
Goyal, who will contest his maiden Lok Sabha polls from Mumbai North, additionally highlighted the achievements of the Modi authorities and asserted that the BJP-led NDA will return to energy for a 3rd consecutive time period on the Centre following the overall elections.
Baluni expressed happiness over Bhandari becoming a member of the BJP and mentioned it’s a “special moment” for him.
“He is a sitting MLA from one of the 14 assembly segments under the (Garhwal) Lok Sabha constituency from where I have been fielded as the BJP candidate,” he mentioned.
“Of the 14 assembly segments under Garhwal Lok Sabha constituency, 13 were already with the BJP. With Bhandari joining the BJP, the Congress now does not have any MLA there,” Baluni added.
(With PTI inputs)
