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- Published: June 9, 2021 13:06
New Delhi: Giving a big blow to grand old party, Congress leader Jitin Prasada joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the presence of Union Railway Miniter Piyush Goyal at the party headquarters on Wednesday.
Once a close aide of Rahul Gandhi, Jitin Prasad joined BJP at the party headquarters.
Speaking on the occasion, Prasada said, “I have a three-generation connection with Congress, so I took this important decision after a lot of deliberation. In the last 8-10 years I have felt that if there is one party that is truly national, it is BJP. Other parties are regional but this is the national party.”
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Delhi: Jitin Prasada meets BJP national president JP Nadda, after joining the party. The Congress leader joined BJP today in the presence of Union Minister Piyush Goyal. pic.twitter.com/0QsU6QNuoY
— ANI (@ANI) June 9, 2021
# I have a three-generation connection with Congress, so I took this important decision after a lot of deliberation. In the last 8-10 years I have felt that if there is one party that is truly national, it is BJP. Other parties are regional but this is national party: Jitin Prasada
Delhi: Congress leader Jitin Prasada joins BJP in the presence of Union Miniter Piyush Goyal, at the party headquarters. pic.twitter.com/lk07VGygbe
— ANI (@ANI) June 9, 2021
Prasad reached Union Minister Piyush Goyal’s residence in Delhi today and also reportedly met Amit Shah. BJP MP and spokesperson Anil Baluni had tweeted that an eminent personality will join the party today at 1 pm at the party headquarters in Delhi.
Congress leader Jitin Prasada reaches Union Minister Piyush Goyal’s residence in Delhi, Prasada likely to join BJP at 1 pm. pic.twitter.com/Tfr0wOGvuG
— ANI (@ANI) June 9, 2021
Prasad was one of G-23 dissenters who sought shake-up in Cong
Prasada was one of the 23 leaders who wrote to party chief Sonia Gandhi seeking organisational changes. The group of dissidents is called G-23.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Congress leader held a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah at his residence. Union Minister Piyush Goel was also present at the meeting.
Jitin Prasad started his career with Indian Youth Congress as a general secretary. He was elected to the Lok Sabha in 2004 for the first time. He was also a minister in the UPA government at the Centre.
Prasada’s departure is a fresh blow to the Congress party after another heavyweight leader of the party Jyotiraditya Scindia had joined the BJP in March 2020.