Former Vidisha MLA Shashank Bhargava's defection to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), along with several other officials from the Vidisha Congress, dealt another blow to the Congress party in Madhya Pradesh ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
The move, announced on Tuesday, saw Bhargava and his supporters formally join the BJP, with a notable presence of leaders from Vidisha, Narsinghpur, and Raisen districts embracing the saffron party.
Welcoming the newcomers, at the BJP party office in Bhopal where Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav, BJP State President VD Sharma, former Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and Organization General Secretary Hitnand Sharma extended warm greetings. The influx of former Congress workers and officials from the Hoshangabad Lok Sabha constituency further solidified the BJP ranks.
Internal discord within the Congress ranks since the state assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh has been evident, and Bhargava's move suggests a significant shift of support towards the BJP, particularly in the Vidisha region.
Bhargava, who was once considered a strong contender for the Vidisha Lok Sabha seat from the Congress, had contested against former Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. However, his decision to join the BJP came swiftly after the announcement of the Lok Sabha candidate.
A familiar face in Vidisha, Bhargava had contested assembly elections four times on the Congress ticket, experiencing defeat thrice before securing a decisive victory in the 2018 elections against the incumbent BJP MLA Mukesh Tandon. The Vidisha seat has traditionally been a stronghold of the BJP since 1980.
In response to the development, BJP State President VD Sharma highlighted the importance of the BJP's 370 Plus campaign, initiated by Prime Minister Modi in. He emphasized the inclusivity of the campaign, welcoming leaders, workers, and individuals from various backgrounds into the party fold.
Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav emphasized the BJP's growth trajectory under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, stressing that every member, regardless of their stature, plays a significant role within the party. He commended the newcomers for aligning with the party's ideology and Prime Minister Modi's policies.
Former Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan praised Bhargava's leadership, noting his pivotal role in Vidisha's political landscape despite electoral contests from different parties. Chouhan attributed Bhargava's decision to join the BJP to the party's ideology and Prime Minister Modi's vision, extending a warm welcome to leaders from various districts into the BJP fold.
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