In a jolt to the Congress ahead of Lok Sabha polls, retired IAS officer Bhagirath Prasad, whom the party had declared its candidate from Bhind seat in Madhya Pradesh, on Sunday joined the BJP.
Mr. Prasad, who was announced the Congress candidate from Bhind seat only on Saturday, had unsuccessfully contested the last Lok Sabha elections on the party ticket from the same seat.
This time also Congress relied on him and nominated him from the same seat, but on Sunday he switched over to the saffron party.