BJP ex-MP & Budhni leader join Congress

Bhopal: For the first time since November 2005, when Shivraj Singh Chouhan took over as chief minister, a section of BJP workers on Wednesday broke away in Budhni — the CM’s home turf. Rajesh Patel, a former sarpanch of Chhapri in Budhni assembly segment, joined the Congress with more than 1,000 supporters, including 830 tribals, in the presence of former CM and state Congress president Kamal Nath.Rajesh Patel has not been just a regular local BJP leader. His father Sriram Patel was a Jan Sangh activist. Members of his family have been elected sarpanch three times. The family is known to be close to Chouhan. BJP’s former MP from Balaghat, Bodh Singh Bhagat, also joined Congress. Bhagat had won the Balaghat Lok Sabha seat in 2014, defeating Congress’ Heena Kawre by a margin of 96,041 votes.On Wednesday, Bhagat said, “Congress leader Rahul Gandhi led the Bharat Jodo Yatra in extreme weather and sent a message of brotherhood to the country. I am impressed by it.” Bhagat alleged that under BJP rule, adulteration is a major issue in tribal areas. “Fake fertilizer, fake seeds, fake medicines. I tried to raise the matter within the BJP but I was sidelined. MLA from Balaghat assembly seat Gauri Shankar Bisen has been recently inducted into the cabinet even when there is a case of disproportionate assets against him in the Lokayukta,” Bhagat said.The former MP said he is joining Congress unconditionally. “I am not asking for anything. Whatever responsibility is given by the party, I will implement,” he said.Nath recalled that Bodh Singh was in Lok Sabha with him. “You are not just supporting Congress, but the truth. There is no limit to corruption in state today. Every person is either a victim or a witness to corruption. The upcoming assembly poll will determine the future of MP,” Nath said.State Congress spokesman Abbas Hafeez argued, “In the 2018 assembly elections, CM Chouhan’s brother-in-law Sanjay Masani quit BJP and joined the Congress party. This time again, a family close to the CM has joined our party. This shows the increasing distrust of people in BJP and that the credibility of the CM has declined like never before. The ruling BJP is losing ground badly.”Rajesh Patel told reporters, “CM Chouhan makes announcements without thinking how he will plant and harvest the same.” He said he joined Congress after being influenced by the work of Kamal Nath.