Former Congress MLA Manoj Chawla made a significant political move by joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Ratlam on Saturday. This decision comes amidst ongoing speculation regarding his political allegiance, particularly rumors linking him to Kamal Nath.
Chawla, who previously represented the Alot assembly constituency in 2018, resigned from the primary membership of the Congress citing "personal reasons" before formalizing his BJP membership during Chief Minister Mohan Yadav's visit to Ratlam.
During his induction into the saffron fold, Chawla was welcomed by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav.
Another prominent Congress leader, Pramod Gugalia, also joined the BJP alongside him. This move aligns with the BJP's strategy as Yadav tours Ratlam, Jhabua, and Alirajpur districts in preparation for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections starting April 19.
The BJP has fielded Anita Nagar Singh Chouhan from the Ratlam Lok Sabha constituency.
Chawla's departure from the Congress was marked by his resignation, including the relinquishment of his primary membership, communicated through a letter addressed to Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jitu Patwari.
Despite Chawla's exit, some Congress members like Narendra Singh Parihar, district vice president representative and Kisan Congress leader, expressed solidarity with him while affirming their commitment to the Congress ideology. Parihar declined an offer to join the BJP, highlighting the diverse reactions within the party.
Chawla's involvement in a fertiliser robbery case, amidst a urea crisis in Alot, has attracted significant attention. Alongside other leaders, including former district Congress member Yogendra Singh Jadaun, Chawla faced accusations of robbery and dacoity following an incident at a government warehouse.
However, his legal fate remains uncertain as the decision in his case is pending, further intensifying the political landscape in Madhya Pradesh.
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