Rahul loyalist Prasada joins BJP ahead of UP polls

“I want to be part of new India that PM Modi is trying to build” – Jitin Prasada

“The Congress must reclaim its position as India’s big tent party. It still has a strong bench which, if empowered and optimally utilised, can deliver” – Milind Deora

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 9

In a setback to the Congress, Rahul Gandhi loyalist Jitin Prasada today joined the BJP ahead of the Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh. Welcoming him into the party fold in the presence of Union Minister Piyush Goyal, BJP’s chief spokesperson Anil Baluni said Prasada was “impressed” with the working style of PM Narendra Modi.

Goyal too heaped praises on Prasada who applauded the PM and ‘karamyogi’ Union Home Minister Amit Shah, claiming the BJP was the only party that was truly national, the other parties being mostly “regional or individual-centric.” The 47-year-old former Union Minister comes from an influential Brahmin family. His father Jitendra Prasada was a well-known Congress leader.

His joining the saffron party comes at a time when the latter is struggling to retain the support of various sections of society. Besides ‘mismanagement’ during the second Covid wave, CM Yogi Adityanath faces allegations of “favouring” the Thakur community. Prasada had launched the ‘Brahmin Chetna Parishad’ to give voice to the community. Ever since Prasada chose to align with the Congress’ G-23, he had been trying to resurrect his career. Already there is speculation of his getting a place in the Yogi ministry.

Prasada’s exit may signal the start of a season of defections in the Congress reeling under electoral setbacks and mounting internal problems. Like Prasada, who said he was finding it difficult to serve the people in the Congress, several other party leaders are at the exit door.

Those who could switch sides are Rajasthan Deputy CM Sachin Pilot, ex-MP Milind Deora and some from the G-23 group which in October last had urged Congress president Sonia Gandhi to set the house in order by holding organisational elections. No forward movement has happened since then.

The Congress high command stands further weakened after the recent poll reverses with the party reduced to a naught in West Bengal, failing to dislodge the BJP and LDF in Assam and Kerala and squandering a government in Puducherry. The Congress made it in Tamil Nadu as the junior partner of the DMK which, on hindsight, could have won on its own.

Shrinking electoral fortunes coupled with the inability of the central leadership to bring about meaningful changes in the party continue to compound the party’s problems with many young leaders getting restive.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

CONGRESS IN DOLDRUMS

-Rajasthan: Pilot and his loyalists continue to await rehabilitation. A frustrated Pilot has repeatedly urged action but to no avail

– Maharashtra: An edgy Milind Deora is seen to be veering towards the BJP. He has publicly praised the

PM on some occasions

-Punjab: CM Amarinder Singh is under attack from his own party men. The Congress has allowed the critics to air their grievances

-Karnataka: Former CM Siddaramaiah and party chief DK Shivakumar remain at loggerheads with both vying for CM’s chair