Lok Sabha polls: BJP rebel Shatrughan Sinha joins Congress on BJP’s foundation day  

After the initial dilly-dallying, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rebel Shatrughan Sinha joined Congress on the day his erstwhile party, BJP was founded – 38 years ago on April 6, 1980.

Sinha said that the BJP has become “one man army” in a thinly veiled reference to PM Modi, as he joined Congress in the presence of Randeep Singh Surjewala, Congress media department head and KC Venugopal, General Secretary (organisation).

Lambasting the saffron party, Sinha told the media that he quit the BJP as there was no change or progress in the party except for “the rise of dictatorship”.

He added that he will be contesting from the Patna Sahib seat in Bihar.

“The BJP has kicked out all the good people with humble intentions… Everyone is scared of Modi ji in the party. Even the MPs are scared of the Prime Minister. There was no development in secularism or in the actions of the saffron party,” added the actor turned politician naming BJP patriarch LK Advani and senior leader Murli Manohar Joshi and Arun Shourie.

Saying that the demonetisation was the “biggest scam in the world,” Sinha said, “when I opposed demonetisation, I was called a rebel. If speaking the truth is rebellion, then yes, I am a rebel.”

Welcoming Sinha in to party’s fold, Surjewala said Sinha is a “real politician” and has “always spoken the truth fearlessly”.

Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal said, “The best politician of the country is joining the Indian National Congress today. The best politician was in the wrong party, now he is in the right party.

Earlier in the day, Sinha had tweeted that he was leaving the party with a “heavy heart and immense pain”.

He said, “I don’t hold any ill will for our people as they were like my family and I was groomed in this party with the guidance and blessings of the stalwarts like Bharat Ratna Nanaji Deshmukh, late and great PM #atalbiharivajpayee and of course, our friend philosopher, ultimate leader, guru and guide, Sri. LK #Advani,” he added.