NEW DELHI: Putting days of speculation to rest, former Congress leader Kuldeep Bishnoi joined Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the party office in Delhi on Thursday in the presence of Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.
On Wednesday, Bishnoi resigned as MLA in the state.
“I welcome him into the BJP family. Yesterday he resigned as MLA in Haryana and today joined the Bharatiya Janata Party,” Haryana Chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar said.
In the Rajya Sabha polls, that were held in June, Bishnoi had voted for BJP-backed candidate Kartikeya Sharma. Because of Bishnoi’s vote for Sharma, Congress official candidate Ajay Maken lost the election in Haryana.
Following the result, Congress expelled Bishnoi for anti-party activity.
Recalling the incident, Khattar said, “Victory on one seat was assured but there was a very tight contest for the second seat. Kuldeep Bishnoi promised that he would vote for the BJP-backed candidate and fulfilled his promise.”
Kuldeep Bishnoi, son of former Haryana chief minister Bhajan Lal, has been a two-time MP and four-time MLA. His wife, Renuka Bishnoi, who has also been a two-time MLA, joined BJP.
Bishnoi said that he has been very inspired by the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and decided to work under his guidance.
“It will be no exaggeration if I say there has been no better prime minister in the country than Narendra Modi. I and all those joining BJP today along with me will work with full dedication for the party,” Bishnoi said.