NEW DELHI: In a significant political development in Madhya Pradesh, senior Congress leader and former Union Minister, Suresh Pachauri, along with several other prominent figures, has made a pivotal shift by joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Bhopal just ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Among those joining Pachauri are former MP Gajendra Singh Rajukhedi, former MLA Sanjay Shukla, and a host of other leaders.
Addressing the media post his BJP induction, Pachauri expressed his disappointment with the Congress, citing instances such as the party’s disregard for an invitation to the Bhagwan Ram Pran Pratishtha Samaroh. “When the Congress disrespected the invitation to the Bhagwan Ram Pran Pratishtha Samaroh, I felt hurt, and today, I have joined the BJP,” said Pachauri.
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He lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efforts towards building the Ram temple, stating, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiative to build the temple is a significant achievement. I cannot walk with those who disrespect Lord Ram because I am a devout Hindu.”
Reacting to Pachauri’s move, senior BJP leader and former Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan took a dig at the Congress, remarking that the party is “on the verge of extinction” due to its directionless leadership. State BJP President VD Sharma hailed Pachauri and Shukla as “tall leaders of Madhya Pradesh,” emphasizing the lack of space for such leaders within the Congress as a reason for their defection to the BJP.
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Pachauri, known for his close association with the Gandhi family, had served as a Union Minister of State for Defence and held various key positions within the Congress, including the post of the party’s Madhya Pradesh unit president. His defection from the Congress highlights a trend of leaders leaving the party, indicating a significant shift in the state’s political landscape ahead of the crucial Lok Sabha elections.
The departure of these leaders from the Congress to the BJP could have far-reaching implications for Madhya Pradesh’s political dynamics in the upcoming elections and beyond.