Defections continue, Congress MP Geeta Kora from Jharkhand's Singhbhum latest to join BJP

New Delhi: Congress’ lone MP from Jharkhand Geeta Kora, wife of former Chief Minister Madhu Kora, on Monday became the latest player in the defection game ahead of Lok Sabha elections, joining the BJP as MPs across party lines started evaluating their electoral prospects.

A number of YSR Congress in Andhra Pradesh and BSP MPs in Uttar Pradesh have switched sides while some others are in touch with parties of their interests.

Geeta (41), who joined the Congress after Madhu Kora-led Jai Bharat Samanta Party merged with the grand old party in 2018, had won from Singhbhum seat in 2019 to become a first-term MP. She was elected MLA for the first time in 2009 at the age of 26 and re-elected five years later.

Joining the BJP in the presence of state party chief Babulal Marandi, she said, “Congress has put the country in trouble by indulging in appeasement politics. The party says it will take everyone along, but it takes only its family along.”

With Geeta defecting from Congress, the BJP expects to consolidate tribal votes.

On Sunday, BSP MP Ritesh Pandey joined the BJP. There is speculation about four more BSP MPs leaving the Mayawati-led party.

Already, Afzal Ansari has joined the Samajwadi Party while Danish Ali is expected to join hands with the Congress. Shyam Singh Yadav may join either Samajwadi Party or Congress.

At least six YSR Congress MPs, including one from Rajya Sabha, have resigned from the party ahead of the elections.

These include K Raghuramkrishna Raju, Lavu Srikrishna Devarayalu, Sanjeev Kumar, V Balashowry, Prabhakar Reddy Vemi Reddy and Maguntu Srinivasulu Reddy. Most of them are headed to TDP.

Earlier, TDP MP Kesineni Srinivas had quit the party and joined YSR Congress.