“Quit from BJP due to ideological differences”: Hisar MP Brijendra Singh joins Congress

New Delhi [India], March 10 (ANI): Brijendra Singh, the former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Haryana’s Hisar joined the Congress on Sunday hours after resigning from the ruling party.

Singh formally became a part of the opposition party at Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge’s residence in New Delhi.

While resigning from the BJP, Singh attributed his decision to “compelling political reasons”.

“I have resigned from the primary membership of the BJP due to compelling political reasons. I extend gratitude to the party, national president JP Nadda, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Amit Shah for giving me the opportunity to serve as the Member of Parliament for Hisar,’ Mr Singh posted on X earlier today.

He also announced that he has also resigned from the Lok Sabha membership.

“I am grateful to the people of Hisar for giving me the opportunity to represent them and raise their demands as their MP. The resolve of public service with which I left the IAS job and entered politics will continue,” he added.

Later, after joining the Congress at the party President’s official residence, Brijendra Singh said that he had ‘ideological differences’ with the party.

“I quit the BJP and joined the Congress because of political and ideological differences. From farmers’ issues to Agniveers to the wrestler’s protests – I differed on many things. I am very happy to join the Congress family,” he said.

Senior Congress leaders Ajay Maken, Mukul Wasnik and Deepak Babaria were present at party chief Mallikarjun Kharge’s residence when Bijendra Singh joined the party.

“One issue that was raised in the rally in Jind on 2nd October was about the alliance of BJP-JJP in Haryana. A decision was taken regarding it and that too is a reason (for quitting BJP),” Singh told ANI.

There is a buzz over the seat-sharing arrangement between the Bharatiya Janata Party and Jannayak Janata Party for the upcoming Lok Sabha election.

In the 2019 Haryana assembly polls, JJP won 10 seats and entered into a post-poll alliance with the BJP, which fell short of the majority mark by six, to form the government. In the Lok Sabha elections of 2019, the BJP won all 10 seats in Haryana.

Brijendra Singh is a Member of Parliament from Haryana’s Hisar. He is also a member of many parliamentary panels.

Brijendra Singh is the son of former union minister and BJP leader Birender Singh. He is the great-grandson of Jat icon Chhotu Ram.

Last year, Brijendra Singh publicly backed the wrestlers who were protesting against BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over alleged sexual harassment allegations.

In Haryana, the Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress, both part of the opposition bloc- INDIA will contest in alliance. As per the agreement reached by both parties, AAP will contest Kurukshetra while Congress will contest the remaining nine seats in the state.