Several state and local Congress leaders, including Dharampal Thakur Khand, the former general secretary of the Pradesh Congress Committee, joined the BJP on Monday, just days before the Himachal Pradesh assembly elections.
With four days left before the vote, a total of 26 leaders of the opposition Congress party defected and joined the governing BJP.
With less than a week till voting, this comes as a huge shock to the Congress party.
In the presence of Chief Minister Jairam Thakur and the BJP’s Sudhan Singh, who is in charge of BJP state elections, the leaders abandoned the ship. Sanjay Sood, a Shimla-based BJP candidate, was also present.
All BJP members were cordially welcomed by Chief Minister Jairam Thakur.
“Let us work together for the historic victory of the BJP,” he said.
Prior to the Himachal assembly elections, BJP national president JP Nadda professed confidence in the party’s victory and claimed that the state’s residents have faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He praised Chief Minister Jairam Thakur for leading the election-bound state and claimed that he put policies into practise.
While talking to the media persons in Himachal Pradesh’s Solan, he said, “We are conducting public outreach programme in Solan. People are excited and have trust in PM Modi. CM Jairam Thakur has implemented policies on the ground in the state.”
Election day in Himachal is November 12; the results will be tallied on December 8.
