Punjab BJP leader Rajkumar Verka resigns from party to rejoin Congress

Amritsar (Punjab) [India], October 13 (ANI): Punjab Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) vice president Rajkumar Verka on Friday announced his resignation from the party adding that he is going to Delhi to rekindle ties with Congress.

The former Punjab minister, who left Congress in June last year and joined BJP, announced his decision to quit BJP during a press briefing at his residence in Amritsar today.

He said that joining the BJP was a big mistake and termed his rekindling ties with the Congress party ‘ghar wapsi’.

“After thinking for many days, I have decided that I am leaving the BJP. I am resigning from the BJP. After this, I am leaving for Delhi right now. I will join the Congress party,” Verka said at the press briefing.

He added, “I can say with certainty that BJP does not have a tradition of taking everyone along.” Verka also claimed that if any party can work for the interests of Punjab, it is only Congress.

Verka further said that as he rejoins Congress, many other former members of the party in Punjab will also bid goodbye to BJP and will rejoin Congress. After holding the press conference, Verka left for the airport, from where he will go straight to Delhi and meet the Congress top brass.

In fact, recently during Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Amritsar, there were discussions on Verka leaving BJP to join Congress.

Punjab BJP called Verka’s decision to quit the party “unfortunate” while also wishing him luck.

“It is very unfortunate. When he joined the BJP, he was given respect. He was made the Vice President of the Punjab State BJP. He was also nominated as a member of the top core decision-making committee of the party,” Punjab BJP Spokesperson Anil Sarin said while speaking to reporters in Patiala.

Sarin further said, “If he is leaving, and that too for joining the Congress, I think Raj Kumar Verka has to answer what the reasons were that he had left Congress and joined the BJP. And now what has happened in the Congress that he is joining it back. He has to answer. He must have had some political expectations that he thought could not be fulfilled here. But still, I would say that a person leaving the family is unfortunate. I wish him good luck.”