Weeks after he publicly praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former Aam Aadmi Party legislator, who also served as Speaker of the Delhi Assembly, M.S. Dhir returned to the “BJP family” on Friday calling it his “homecoming”.
The former BJP office-bearer from the Jangpura constituency had joined the AAP and won the election to become an MLA from the same constituency.
Responding to questions that he exited the AAP after rumours that he would not be granted a ticket to contest the upcoming elections, Mr. Dhir said he joined the BJP because he was “impressed” with Mr. Modi, adding that “the country will progress under the Modiji-Amit Shah [BJP president]
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Even though he did not admit that he was looking to contest the upcoming elections on a BJP ticket, Mr. Dhir said Jangpura remains his preferred constituency.
Pradesh in-charge Prabhat Jha had earlier told journalists that his party will welcome only those people from other political parties who join the BJP without any conditions. However, party sources said Mr. Dhir is likely to be considered as the candidate from the Jangpura constituency.
Mr. Dhir, who came with party workers of his constituency to join the BJP formally in the presence of senior Delhi BJP leaders, also attacked the AAP for resigning from the government after just 49 days.
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“If today, he [AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal] asks for one more chance to run the government, what is the guarantee that he won’t resign again? Last time they did not even complete half-century and now what if they quit in 29 days?” he said.
However, he clarified, he was “not angry with Kejriwal”, but was upset with the way the AAP functioned in an “undemocratic way”.
Attacking Mr. Kejriwal for resigning as Delhi Chief Minister, Mr. Dhir said: “They [the AAP] got one chance to form a government, but got emotional and resigned, which they should not have done. Kejriwal hurt the emotions of the masses, which supported him, by resigning as CM.”
Former captain of Indian Davis Cup team Rohit Rajpal also joined the BJP.
“I am happy to serve the country in a different way now. I am greatly inspired by the leadership of Mr. Modi. I represent the youth and look forward to working with everyone in the party,” he said.