New Delhi: With 2019 Lok Sabha polls around the corner, Congress leader Tom Vadakkan, defected to BJP on Thursday.
Vadakkan stated that the reason for his move to BJP is Congress ‘questioning of the integrity of the armed forces’ after the air strikes at the Jaish-e Mohammed terror camps in Pakistan’s Balakot.
“If a political party takes such a position that is against the country, then I’m left with no option but to leave the party,” Vadakkan said.
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Seated by BJP’s Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad at a press conference on Thursday, Vadakkan said he has given his “prime years” to the Congress. Accusing the party of having ‘dynastic politics’ and a ‘use and throw culture’ he said, “It is not acceptable… There’s no place in it for self-respecting people”.
Sources said Vadakkan had been keen on a ticket to contest elections and the BJP is likely to have promised him one.
Meanwhile, Arjun Singh of Trinamool Congress lawmaker from Bengal’s Bhatpara assembly seat also switched sides and moved to BJP.