Karnataka: KP Nanjundi joins Congress hours after resignation from BJP
Nanjundi took the primary membership of the Congress party in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and AICC general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala.
The Congress on Wednesday fielded Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s brother-in-law Sanjay Singh Masani from Waraseoni in Balaghat district.
In a surprise move, Masani joined the Congress on Saturday in the presence of PCC chief Kamal Nath and campaign committee chief Jyotiraditya Scindia.
BJP had reportedly not considered Masani’s demand for contesting from Waraseoni following which he decided to switch camps. BJP has fielded sitting MLA Yogendra Nirmal from the same constituency.
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At the press conference following his induction into the Congress, Masani, brother of Chouhan’s wife Sadhana, accused the BJP of “dynasty politics”.
“BJP is now all about dynasty and nepotism. Most of the candidates fielded by BJP are sons and daughters of MLAs or MPs. Those who work for the party are being neglected for the sake of dynasty politics,” he said.
Referring to Kamal Nath, Masani said, “Madhya Pradesh needs Nath not Shivraj.”
He said there was no industry in MP and there were no jobs for the unemployed. Acknowledging that investment had been made in the state, he slammed the state government for not being able to show results.
When asked to clarify on his dynasty politics remark given that he was himself the brother-in-law of the CM, Masani said he was “a relative” and the term “parivar” meant “son, daughter, wife, brother and sister”.
“I am their relative. I am Sanjay Singh Masani. My clan and gotra are different,” he said.
The BJP released its first list of 177 candidates for the Madhya Pradesh polls. Names for the remaining 53 seats are yet to be announced.
The 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly will have a single phase polling on 28 November. CM Chouhan will contest from Budhini.
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