Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Congress faced yet another big jolt in Madhya Pradesh as senior party leader Suresh Pachouri, along with several leaders, joined BJP on Saturday.
Pachouri, who had tendered his resignation to AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge on March 7, joined the BJP in the presence of Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and state BJP President V. D. Sharma.
Pachouri, who has been sidelined for the last few years even when the MP Congress unit was headed by former CM Kamal Nath, has been upset and was exploring his political future.
Pachouri, who also served as state Congress President and also held various posts during the 40 years of his association with the grand-old party, has strong hold in Bhopal region.
A signal for his disappontment was made ahead of the assembly election in November last year when one of his close aides was replaced from the post of Bhopal district president. Since then, Pachouri has been upset with the party's top leadership.
Apart from Pachouri, several other Congress leaders, including former MP Gajendra Singh Rajukhedi and ex-MLA Sanjay Shukla (Indore) also joined the BJP.
Former MLA Shukla had contested the assembly election against senior BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya, and lost. However, he is considered a close aide of Vijayvargiya, as he often called the senior BJP leader as his father figure.
As Rana lands in India, 26/11 martyr Tukaram Omble's brother demands hanging of Tahawwur
On the day Tahawwur Rana, one of the co-conspirators in the Mumbai terror attacks was brought to India, Eknath Omble, the brother of Ashok Chakra awardee and 26/11 martyr Tukaram Omble, urged the central government to hang the terrorist and send a strong message to Pakistan.
India and UK reaffirm free trade agreement, support supply chains
Amid the changing world trade order, India and the UK have reaffirmed their commitment to furthering the bilateral relations between the two nations, including continuing negotiations at pace towards a mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT).
Centre appoints special public prosecutor for 26/11 Mumbai terror attack case
The Central government has appointed Advocate Narender Mann as the Special Public Prosecutor for the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack case hearing.
Bhagwan Mahavir's ideals give strength to countless people, says PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his greetings to the nation on the occasion of Mahavir Jayanti, saying Bhagwan Mahavir's ideals give strength to countless people worldwide.
Trump lowers levies on countries like India for not retaliating
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced a lower rate of 10 per cent for 90 days in reciprocal tariffs for trading partner countries that have not retaliated with higher levies on American goods — such as India — and further hiked the levy on China to 125 per cent for hitting back.
HM Shah says Rana’s extradition a major diplomatic win for Modi govt
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has lauded the extradition of Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a key accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, as a defining triumph for the administration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Tripura govt committed to preserving old culture, tradition: CM Saha
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Wednesday said that the BJP government is working to preserve old culture and tradition like Putul Khela (doll game), Jatra (folk theatre) and Natak (drama).