BSP strongman joins BJP

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 18

Three days before the Haryana Assembly elections, BSP strongman Kartar Singh Bhadana on Friday joined the BJP, expressing faith in the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party president Amit Shah.

He is the brother of Congress leader Avtar Singh Bhadana. The family is believed to wield influence in the Gujjar community.

Arun Singh, BJP general secretary, said policies of Modi and Shah had influenced leaders of other parties to quit their organisations and join the saffron party.

Kartar Singh had unsuccessfully contested the 2019 Lok Sabha elections on the BSP ticket against BJP’s Narendra Singh Tomar from the Morena seat in Madhya Pradesh.

“I have joined the BJP as I am impressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s policies. I support the Modi government on Article 370. Only the BJP could have taken such a bold step,” Kartar Singh said.

He has been a party-hopper. He won twice from the Samalkha Assembly seat — on the INLD ticket in 1996 and on the Haryana Vikas Party ticket in 2000.