Two Congress leaders, including former MLA, quit party to join BJP

In another setback for the Congress, two prominent leaders—former MLA Narender Sangwan and district spokesperson Satish Rana—have announced their decision to quit the party and join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

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Sangwan will join the BJP on Tuesday in the presence of Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, while Rana is expected to join the saffron party shortly.

Sangwan, who was elected as an MLA from Gharaunda in 2009 on an INLD ticket, had switched to Congress before the 2019 Assembly elections under the leadership of former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda. However, citing internal party infighting and a lack of organisational structure, Sangwan expressed his dissatisfaction with the Congress.

“I am surprised that the Congress has failed to form an effective organisational structure and address the infighting. There is no coordination between the leaders and the workers. I have decided to quit Congress and will join the BJP on Tuesday,” said Sangwan.

He also mentioned that he had been assured election tickets for both the 2019 and 2024 Assembly elections.

Similarly, Satish Rana, who had served in various roles within the BJP from 2008 to 2022, including as district president of the Kisan Morcha, cited the same reasons for his departure.

Rana had joined Congress in 2022 under Hooda’s leadership but has now decided to leave, citing the party's neglect of its workers and organisational chaos.

“I have served the BJP for many years and was in various leadership positions. I joined Congress in 2022, but now, seeing the party’s internal issues, I have decided to return to the BJP,” said Rana, adding that he would be joining the BJP in the coming days.

Their exits follow a series of defections from Congress to BJP last week, with several key leaders, including former Haryana Minority Commission chairperson Trilochan Singh, former district president (urban) Ashok Khurana, Nittu Mann, Parvesh Gaba, and Shiv Kumar Sharma, also making the switch.

Many of these leaders expressed discontent with the Congress after the party nominated Manoj Wadhwa as its mayoral candidate for the Karnal seat, fueling their decision to join the BJP.