Jaswant Singh's son along with wife to join Congress

Manvendra Singh, son of former external affairs minister Jaswant Singh, will join Congress party on Wednesday. Singh, sitting MLA from Sheo, made the move barely 23 days after he quit the BJP.

Singh told DH that he will be joining the Congress party in a day or two. Along with him, his wife Chitra Singh will also be joining the Congress. "I have decided to join Congress along with my family members. I am in talks with Congress leaders and it's almost decided," Singh said. When asked if his mother Sheetal Kanwar and father Jaswant Singh would follow suit, Singh categorically said "No".

Singh exited BJP on September 22 during the Swabhiman rally (fight for self-respect and dignity) at Pachpadra in Barmer district. While Manvendra confirmed that he is aiming at Lok Sabha ticket from Congress, he ruled out speculation that his wife is eyeing an assembly ticket from Congress. "These are rumours. She is not eyeing assembly elections," Singh told DH.

After announcing his decision to quit BJP, Manvendra Singh had said he would base his future course on public opinion. However, at the rally, many people had urged him to join the Congress party.

Impact on polls

With elections a few weeks away, Manvendra Singh's exit from BJP and entry into Congress will have a substantial impact on upcoming assembly polls in Rajasthan. Marwar, known as the Rajput belt of Rajasthan, may now give its support to Singh as the community has been upset with the ruling BJP in the recent past.

Soured ties

The Singh family’s ties with the saffron party and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje soured after Jaswant Singh was denied a party ticket by the BJP for the 2014 elections from his hometown of Barmer. Jaswant Singh contested as an independent against the party’s official candidate and lost.

In the same year, Manvendra was suspended for campaigning for his father. Manvendra Singh had earlier skipped Chief Minister Raje's Gaurav Yatra in Barmer and Pachpadra.