Major Blow To Congress As Jyoti Mirdha Joins BJP Ahead Of Elections In Rajasthan
In a major setback to the Congress in boll-bound Rajasthan, former Congress Member of Parliament Jyoti Mirdha has joined the Bhartiya Janata Party along with IPS-turned-politician Sawai Singh Choudhary on Monday. Both, Mirdha and Chaudhary hail from the Nagaur region of Rajasthan and their inclusion in the BJP is said to impact the party’s prospects in the upcoming elections.
The former Congress leaders joined the BJP in presence of National General Secretary Arun Singh and Rajasthan BJP president CP Joshi in the national capital, who took the opportunity to attack the Congress party and called for change in the poll-bound Rajasthan.
While joining the BJP, Mirdha accused the Congress of deviating from the path of nation-building and criticised the party for ignoring the leaders and party cadres. Mirdha assured the BJP leadership that she would contribute towards the party’s success in the upcoming assembly elections and parliamentary elections. She said that she would work to establish a strong government in the state of Rajasthan and would work towards ensuring a third-term to the BJP at the centre. Mirdha underlined that India has significantly progressed under the decisive leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The impact on upcoming elections
The move is expected to impact the Congress party in the Nagaur belt, as Mirdha has been contesting from the Nagaur Lok Sabha seat on the Congress ticket. Jyoti Mirdha is the granddaughter of six-time MP from Nagaur, Nathuram Mirdha. Nathuram Mirdha was a very influential Congress leader in the Nagaur belt.
Jyoti Mirdha contested her first parliamentary elections in 2009 and secured the Nagaur seat for the Congress party. However, she lost consecutively in 2014 and 2019 General Elections. In 2019, she was defeated by Hanuman Beniwal. The BJP had supported Beniwal in 2019, but as of now Beniwal and BJP do not enjoy a warm relationship. Sawai Singh Chaudhary, too hails from the Nagur region and has been fielded by the Congress party from Khinvsar seat.
BJP takes a jibe at Congress over women safety
The leaders present at the event welcomed Mirdha and Choudhary into the fold of the saffron party. Recounting the leaders who joined the BJP in recent times, General Secretary Arun Singh said that Congress leaders joining the party understand that there is “parivartan ki hawa” and said that the leaders wish to contribute to the development of India. Rajasthan BJP chief CP Joshi attacked the Ashok Gehlot-run Rajasthan government for the increasing crimes against women in the state.
The two leaders have switched to Congress just days after sacked-Rajasthan minister Rajendra Singh Gudha joined Shiv Sena. Assembly elections are due in Rajasthan later this year and the BJP is gearing up for putting up a strong fight in the state. Rajasthan has a history of not voting incumbents back to power.
