Rajasthan ex-minister Mahendrajeet Singh Malviya quits BJP, seeks Congress return: ‘No one in govt listens to poor’
On Sunday, Malviya met state Congress leaders, who said they would discuss his potential return with the high command. He had joined BJP in 2024 to contest Lok Sabha polls from Banwara, which he lost.
Former Rajasthan cabinet minister Mahendrajeet Singh Malviya, who switched to BJP last year, has quit the ruling party and wants to return to Congress.
Malviya joined BJP during 2024 Lok Sabha elections to contest from Banwara seat which he lost to BAP member Rajkumar Roat.
On Sunday, Malviya met with Congress General Secretary Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) President Govind Singh Dotasra, and Leader of the Opposition Tikaram Jully in Constitution Club in Jaipur.
After the meeting, Malviya told journalists that even with the BJP in power, he was unable to get work done for the people. He stated that, “There is no one in the BJP government who listens to the poor. MNREGA payments have been pending for months, and farmers are not getting fertilizers. I have written to the Chief Minister and the state president several times, but no solution was found. Hence, I have accepted that only Congress can uplift the public in the tribal areas.”
PCC President Govind Singh Dotasra said that he had received a letter from Mahendrajeet Singh Malviya, in which Malviya stated that leaving the Congress party was a mistake.
“Malviya said that Congress has always given him respect and honour, and that he is a person who believes in the principles and policies of the Congress. He accepted that the call to join the Bharatiya Janata Party a huge, historical mistake. Malviya said he has resigned from the Bharatiya Janata Party and that he felt suffocated in the BJP and did not want to stay there for even a second,” said Dotasra.
PCC Chief further states that the matter is sent to the disciplinary committee, and they will discuss the matter and submit their report to the high command through the state in-charge, and it remains to be seen what decision the high command takes.
Story continues below this ad
Dotasra told the media on Sunday that Malviya has resigned from the BJP, admitting that he joined a party where there is no respect for tribal or people of any other caste.
“He said he had lived a humiliating life there for so long. Therefore, he is a soldier of the Congress party and wants to remain in the Congress. We will forward his case to the party high command, and we will certainly proceed according to whatever decision the high command takes,” said Dotasra.
In Jaipur, Malviya said that Congress is not a new party for him. He spent the last 40 years in Congress, working as a Sarpanch, Pradhan, MP, five times as District Head, four times as MLA, and twice as a minister in the government.
However, some time ago, he felt that with a double-engine government in power, development in his area should not stop and the public should not suffer. That’s why he joined the BJP. But after joining, he realized that he could not adjust or find common ground there.
Story continues below this ad
Therefore, after consulting his conscience and his workers, he decided to return to the Congress party.
Before the urban body elections that are due to be held this year, Malviya’s joining Congress is seen as a boost to the party.
Parul Kulshrestha is a Principal Correspondent for The Indian Express, based in Rajasthan. A lawyer turned journalist, she brings a unique cross-disciplinary perspective to her reporting, blending legal precision with deep social inquiry to cover one of India's most culturally and politically vibrant regions.
Expertise and Experience
Legal-Journalistic Synergy: Parul’s transition from a legal background to mainstream journalism provides her with a distinct advantage in interpreting policy, legislation, and judicial impacts. This expertise allows her to "read between the lines" of government orders and court rulings affecting the public.
Diverse Beat: With years of experience across both mainstream newsrooms and independent journalism, she has built high-level authority in several critical areas:
Nomadic Tribes & Marginalized Communities: She is recognized for her sensitive and in-depth reporting on the struggles and rights of Rajasthan's nomadic populations, often giving a voice to those outside the traditional political spotlight.
Gender & Social Justice: Parul focuses on the intersection of law and gender, covering issues ranging from women’s safety and reproductive rights to the socio-economic empowerment of rural women.
Environmental & Political Reporting: She tracks Rajasthan’s complex political landscape—including electoral shifts and bureaucratic changes—alongside critical environmental concerns like water scarcity and land use.
Academic & Professional Pedigree: Her background as a lawyer, combined with her rise to the rank of Principal Correspondent at a national broadsheet, establishes her as a senior voice in the media landscape. ... Read More
