Churu MP Rahul Kaswan quits BJP citing farmers' issues, joins Congress

New Delhi: A day after a Haryana MP joined the Congress, the grand old party on Monday inducted Rajasthan BJP MP Rahul Kaswan after the two-term lawmaker severed ties with the saffron camp citing farmers’ issues and over denial of ticket.

Kaswan, who represented Churu seat, joined the party in the presence of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rajasthan Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasra, Legislature Party leader Tikka Ram Jully and party in-charge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa.

“I was feeling suffocated in the BJP for a long time on various national issues. We were not being given the respect that a party worker deserves. This was a very big issue,” he said.

On Sunday, Hisar BJP MP Brijendra Singh joined Congress, upset over the way the party handled the farmers’ issues and women wrestlers’ protest. His father and former Congress leader Bijender Singh, who wanted BJP to sever ties with JJP, is also likely to rejoin Congress.

The entry of Kaswan came a day after former Congress ministers Rajendra Yadav and Lal Chand Kataria along with others left the party to join the BJP.

Both Kaswan and Brijendra Singh are likely to be fielded from their home turf in the Lok Sabha elections. BJP has dropped Kaswan from the list of candidates and instead chose Devendra Jhajharia in his place.

Kharge told reporters that he has spoken to all Rajasthan leaders, including Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot, besides Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi on the induction of Kaswan and all of them are united in the decision to induct him into the party.

Kaswan thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for giving him an opportunity to work for ten years as BJP MP but said he has to take a decision as the party has stopped listening to the voice of farmers.

“Due to political reasons, I am resigning from the primary membership of the BJP and the post of MP,” he said.

Dotasra said the voice of farmers are suppressed in the BJP and that was why Kaswan had to leave.

He said the exit of some Congress leaders would not have an impact on the party.