Setback to Congress as party leader Janardan Dwivedi’s son joins BJP

Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, February 4

Advertisement

In a major jolt to the Congress, the son of party veteran and former AICC general secretary organisation Janardan Dwivedi joined the BJP here on Tuesday.

Samir Dwivedi, a former colonel in the Army, became a primary member of the BJP.

Speaking to The Tribune, Janardan Dwivedi, known in the Congress for speaking his mind, said his son’s decision was private and independent.

“I have nothing to do with this. I don’t even know. This is my son’s independent decision,” said Janardan, who had voluntarily resigned as Congress general secretary, a position he held for years serving with former PMs Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi.

Since Janardan resigned he has been keeping a low profile.

He had described Narendra Modi-led BJP’s historic win in the 2014 Lok Sabha election as the “victory of Indianness”, inviting ire of the Congress.

Dwivedi was also someone who called for reservations on the basis of economic criterion even before RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat made the pitch. Then Congress chief Sonia Gandhi had dissociated from Dwivedi’s remarks which the latter made as media incharge of the Congress.

Lately, Dwivedi had backed demonetisation against the party line saying, “India saw socialism for a day.”

All eyes are now on Dwivedi’s next move though he firmly dissociated from his son’s recent move.