Farmers' Issues, Wrestlers' Protest: Why BJP MP Switched To Congress

Brijendra Singh, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Haryana's Hisar, today resigned from the primary membership of the party, and joined the Congress just weeks ahead of the general elections.

Mr Singh formally became a part of the opposition party at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's residence in New Delhi.

"I quit the BJP and joined the Congress because of political and ideological differences. From farmers' issues to Agniveers to the wrestler's protests - I differed on many things. I am very happy to join the Congress family," he said after joining the party. 

Senior Congress leaders Ajay Maken, Mukul Wasnik, and Deepak Babaria were present at Kharge's residence during Singh's official induction into the Congress party. Congress sources have hinted that the bureaucrat-turned-politician is likely to be the party's candidate from Hisar in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

"I have resigned from the primary membership of BJP due to compelling political reasons. I extend gratitude to the party, national president JP Nadda, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Amit Shah for giving me the opportunity to serve as the Member of Parliament for Hisar,' Mr Singh posted on X earlier today.

"I have also resigned from Lok Sabha membership. I am grateful to the people of Hisar for giving me the opportunity to represent them and raise their demands as their MP. The resolve of public service with which I left the IAS job and entered politics will continue," he added,

साथ ही मैंने लोकसभा सदस्यता से भी इस्तीफ़ा दे दिया है।
मैं हिसार की जनता का आभारी हूँ कि उन्होंने मुझे अपना प्रतिनिधित्व करने का, उनकी माँगों को उनके सांसद के तौर पर उठाने का मौक़ा दिया।
जनसेवा का जो संकल्प लेकर मैं आईएएस की नौकरी छोड़ कर राजनीति में आया था, वो जारी रहेगा। https://t.co/ZPUKu2P3h4 — Brijendra Singh (@BrijendraSpeaks) March 10, 2024

Mr Singh is the son of veteran BJP leader Chaudhary Birender Singh. According to sources, Mr Singh may join the Congress in the presence of his father who had resigned from Congress in 2014 to join the BJP. The former Indian Administrator (IAS) is the great-grandson of the eminent Jat leader Chhotu Ram.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the bureaucrat-turned-politician had defeated Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) leader Dushyant Chautala and Bhavya Bishnoi, who was then with the Congress, to win Hisar Lok Sabha seat.

The timing of Singh's departure raises questions about the internal dynamics within the BJP, particularly as the party recently unveiled its first list of candidates for the upcoming general elections. BJP's poll roster featured prominent figures, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, 34 Union Ministers, and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, along with other key leaders.

However, the party has yet to disclose candidates for seats in Haryana, leaving room for speculation regarding Mr Singh's potential impact on the party's electoral strategy in the state.