In the season of changing loyalties, adding another name to the list, Congress Spokesperson Tom Vadakkan on Thursday announced its disassociation from Rahul Gandhi-led party and joined hands with Bhartiya Janta Party in a run-up to the General Elections 2019.
Tom Vadakkan, once a close aide of Congress Former President Sonia Gandhi joined BJP in presence of Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad. Citing his reason behind changing the outfit ahead of the Lok Sabha Polls, Vadakkan said that he deeply hurt after party’s reaction following Pulwama Terror Attack. He said he was left with no option but to turncoat, as the Congress has questioned the army forces, Vadakkan claimed.
Vadakkam after joining the BJP said as quoted by news agency ANI, ‘I left Congress party because when Pakistani terrorists attacked our land, my party’s reaction to it was sad, it hurt me deeply. If a political party takes such a position that is against the country, then I’m left with no option but to leave the party‘.
Tom Vadakkan: I left Congress party because when Pakistani terrorists attacked our land, my party's reaction to it was sad, it hurt me deeply. If a political party takes such a position that is against the country then I'm left with no option but to leave the party. pic.twitter.com/8oZYoFRGx4
— ANI (@ANI) March 14, 2019
Vadakkan after joining the party thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bhartiya Janta Party President Amit Shah.
The recent setback for Congress came days after Sujay Vikhe Patil, son of the leader of opposition in Maharashtra Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, joined hands with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday. While Many leaders in West Bengal from Congress also jump ship in the last few days and joined trucks with Saffron Party.
Gautam Ghosh and Rakesh Kumar from Congress had earlier this week joined BJP in West Bengal. Ghosh has earlier worked in the core team of Congress President Rahul Gandhi while Kumar was an AICC Committee member and Kolkata Congress Committee General Secretary.
With the General Elections Schedule announced by Election Commission on Sunday, it is expected the parties in the upcoming days will intensify their hunts to outdo each other in the mega battle of ballots and many leaders will change outfits.
General Elections are slated for April-May this year that would spread on Seven Phases starting from April 11 to May 19. Election Commission had on Sunday declared schedule for General Elections 2019.
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