Jolt to Haryana BJP, senior leader Virk joins Congress

In a major setback to the ruling BJP ahead of the Assembly elections, senior leader and former Chief Parliamentary Secretary (CPS) Bakhshish Singh Virk joined the Congress in the presence of state party president Udai Bhan and former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda in Delhi on Tuesday.

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Virk was denied ticket for the upcoming elections, causing discontent among his supporters.

His step is seen as a major boost for the Congress, particularly in the Assandh Assembly segment, where Congress candidate Shamsher Singh Gogi is contesting.

Virk, a prominent Sikh leader, had earlier expressed his disappointment after being denied the BJP ticket, but had maintained that he would remain in the party and not contest the election. However, after consultations with his supporters, he has decided to align with the Congress.

Virk was first elected from the Assandh constituency in 2014 during the Modi wave. He had won the seat by a margin of 4,608 votes.

Later, he was appointed CPS in the Haryana Government.

He has contested five Assembly elections so far, beginning his political career in 1996 on a Samata Party ticket. He had also contested the 2005 elections on a BJP ticket from Nilokheri before shifting to Assandh when Nilokheri was reserved for the Scheduled Castes.

"I was denied a ticket, and I was under pressure from my supporters and community members, so I have quit the BJP and joined the Congress without any conditions. I will work for the party’s candidate in Assandh,” said Virk. He also alleged that the BJP had ignored the Sikh community.

Political experts said Virk’s defection to the Congress was likely to boost the party’s chances in Assandh.

Meanwhile, JJP district spokesperson Yashkaran Rana also joined the Congress in Delhi on Tuesday. He had recently resigned from the post and started campaigning for Congress candidates in Karnal and Gharaunda.