Rajasthan polls: Ex-BJP MLA Shobharani Kushwaha, three others join Congress

Expelled by the BJP for crossvoting in Rajya Sabha polls in Rajasthan, Dholpur MLA Shobharani Kushwaha joined Congress along with three others on Wednesday in the presence of party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who welcomed the BJP leaders into the party at a public rally in Aradavata in Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan.

A BJP leader from Kishangarh, Vikas Chaudhary, and former National Commission for Women (NCW) chairperson Mamta Sharma also joined the Congress.

Choudhary was disgruntled over not getting a BJP ticket from the Kishangarh Assembly seat in the upcoming polls.

Later, addressing the rally, Priyanka Gandhi highlighted welfare schemes launched by the Ashok Gehlot government in the state, and announced another scheme for women in the rally.

“Another new initiative in honour of women — Rs 10,000 every year to the female head of the family through Griha Lakshmi Guarantee will be given.”

Saying, “cylinder for just Rs 500 is not just a promise, it is a firm intention. This guarantee is for 1.04 crore families of Rajasthan”, Priyanka took a swipe at PM Modi. “Modi ji’s envelope is empty, he only makes false announcements. BJP had said we will work for SC, ST, OBC, but when we talk about caste census, he becomes silent,” she said.