‘Congress gave me posts below my potential’: Syed Zafar, long-time Kamal Nath loyalist, joins BJP

Congress leaders from Ratlam, Alot and several BSP leaders from other districts also joined the BJP.

The Bahujan Samaj Party's state in-charge also joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). (Photo: PTI)

The BJP’s attempts to break away former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath’s leaders from Chhindwara remain underway, with his loyalist Syed Zafar joining the party on Monday.

Zafar, a former Congress spokesperson, joined the BJP in the presence of Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and the state BJP president V D Sharma. Zafar, who hails from Chhindwara, was considered a close associate of Congress veteran Nath. As per his profile on X, he currently held the post of MP Congress general secretary. However, state Congress media department chairman K K Mishra said Zafar did not hold any post in the party.

Congress leaders from Ratlam, Alot and several BSP leaders from other districts also joined the BJP.

भाजपा प्रदेश कार्यालय, भोपाल में मुख्यमंत्री डॉ. @DrMohanYadav51, प्रदेश अध्यक्ष श्री @vdsharmabjp, प्रदेश लोकसभा चुनाव सह-प्रभारी श्री @upadhyaysbjp, न्यू ज्वाइनिंग टोली के प्रदेश संयोजक डॉ. @drnarottammisra एवं प्रदेश महामंत्री व विधायक श्री @BDSabnani की उपस्थिति में कांग्रेस… pic.twitter.com/pmYoKF9GRF

— BJP Madhya Pradesh (@BJP4MP) March 18, 2024

“After deliberating on this issue and holding discussions with top BJP leaders, I took this decision. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s sabka saath sabka vikas is being applauded on an international level; I joined the BJP since I believe in that slogan,” he said.

The BJP has been trying to wean away Congress leaders from the state and has managed to induct over 5,000 party leaders – from former MPs and MLAs to sarpanches – in the past month. In Chhindwara, the BJP claims to have weaned away over 1,500 leaders as it aims to weaken Nath’s organisation and defeat his son, Nakul, the sitting MP from Chhindwara, the lone seat the BJP failed to win in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Zafar began his political career in Chhindwara as an NSUI block level leader. He then went on to become the student body’s spokesperson and eventually the Congress committee spokesperson.

“I have no complaints against Kamal Nath. He was like my father in the past and will continue to be so in the future… Most of the Congress leaders who are joining the BJP are doing so because of (Chhindwara BJP candidate) Vivek Bunty Sahu… All these years, the party (Congress) gave me posts which were below my potential,” Zafar said.

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said, “Zafar and BSP officials have joined the party influenced by its ideology and the policies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I assure everyone that wherever workers join the party, development work will be carried out as per your guidance.”

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Dr Sanwar Patel, the BJP state spokesperson and chairman of the State Waqf Board, said the inclusion of Jafar into the BJP was an indicator that the “Muslim community is beginning to understand the intentions of Congress, leading to disillusionment”.

“For decades, Congress misled the Muslim community. But now, the eyes of the Muslim society in the country have opened, and the people of the minority community can clearly see through the appeasement trap of the Congress,” Patel said.

Anand Mohan J

Anand Mohan J is an award-winning Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently leading the bureau’s coverage of Madhya Pradesh. With a career spanning over eight years, he has established himself as a trusted voice at the intersection of law, internal security, and public policy. Based in Bhopal, Anand is widely recognized for his authoritative reporting on Maoist insurgency in Central India. In late 2025, he provided exclusive, ground-level coverage of the historic surrender of the final Maoist cadres in Madhya Pradesh, detailing the backchannel negotiations and the "vacuum of command" that led to the state being declared Maoist-free. Expertise and Reporting Beats Anand’s investigative work is characterized by a "Journalism of Courage" approach, holding institutions accountable through deep-dive analysis of several key sectors: National Security & Counter-Insurgency: He is a primary chronicler of the decline of Naxalism in the Central Indian corridor, documenting the tactical shifts of security forces and the rehabilitation of surrendered cadres. Judiciary & Legal Accountability: Drawing on over four years of experience covering Delhi’s trial courts and the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Anand deconstructs complex legal rulings. He has exposed critical institutional lapses, including custodial safety violations and the misuse of the National Security Act (NSA). Wildlife Conservation (Project Cheetah): Anand is a leading reporter on Project Cheetah at Kuno National Park. He has provided extensive coverage of the biological and administrative hurdles of rewilding Namibian and South African cheetahs, as well as high-profile cases of wildlife trafficking. Public Health & Social Safety: His recent investigative work has uncovered systemic negligence in public services, such as contaminated blood transfusions causing HIV infections in thalassemia patients and the human cost of the fertilizer crisis affecting rural farmers. Professional Background Tenure: Joined The Indian Express in 2017. Locations: Transitioned from the high-pressure Delhi City beat (covering courts, police, and labor issues) to his current role as a regional lead in Madhya Pradesh. Notable Investigations: * Exposed the "digital arrest" scams targeting entrepreneurs. Investigated the Bandhavgarh elephant deaths and the impact of kodo millet fungus on local wildlife. Documented the transition of power and welfare schemes (like Ladli Behna) in Madhya Pradesh governance. Digital & Professional Presence Author Profile: Anand Mohan J at Indian Express Twitter handle: @mohanreports ... Read More