Rajasthan: BJP MP Harish Meena joins Congress weeks ahead of assembly elections

Harish Meena was welcomed by Rajasthan Congress chief Sachin pilot and former chief minister Ashok Gehlot, both of whom have decided to contest the state assembly elections scheduled to be held on December 7.

By: Express Web Desk

New Delhi | Updated: November 14, 2018 02:19 PM IST

2 min read

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Ashok Gehlot said, “Both, I and Sachin Pilot will fight the Rajasthan assembly elections.” (Express photo by Anil Sharma)

In a big setback for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the Rajasthan Assembly elections, party MP from Dausa Harish Meena joined Congress Wednesday. Meena was welcomed by state Congress chief Sachin Pilot and former chief minister Ashok Gehlot, both of whom also announced their decision to contest the assembly elections scheduled on December 7.

Meena, who joined the BJP in 2014, is a retired IPS officer who last served as the Director General of Police of Rajasthan from March 2009 to December 2013, the longest tenure of a DGP in the state. He is also the recipient of Indian Police Medal and President Medal.

Last month, veteran BJP leader Jaswant Singh’s son and former MLA Manvendra Singh joined the Congress. Singh, 54, who won Barmer’s Sheo constituency as BJP candidate in 2013 assembly elections, had announced at a rally in September that he is leaving the BJP. “Kamal ka Phool Badi Bhool’, he had said then, claiming that going with the BJP’s election symbol, the lotus, was a “big mistake”.

Pilot had welcomed Singh into the party, saying it will strengthen the party. He had said, “There is a long list of leaders quitting the BJP and the party should introspect why this is happening.”

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