SHIMLA: Nine MLAs who today joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were welcomed with fervor by BJP workers upon their arrival in Shimla.
The MLAs include Congress's executive president Rajendra Rana, Congress's national secretary Sudhir Sharma, Ravi Thakur, Indradatt Lakhnapal, Devendra Butto, and Chaitanya Sharma, along with three independents, Ashish Sharma, KL Thakur, and Hoshiyar Singh.
Their induction into the BJP was marked by a grand reception attended by Central Minister Anurag Thakur, opposition leader Jairam Thakur, and BJP state president Dr. Rajeev Bindal in New Delhi on Saturday. The presence of Rajya Sabha MP Harsh Mahajan was also notable.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Rajeev Bindal expressed the significance of the moment, stating that it was unprecedented in the history of Himachal Pradesh for nine sitting MLAs from the ruling party to join the opposition.
He emphasized that such a transition had never occurred before in the state.
Jairam Thakur extended a warm welcome to all the MLAs, affirming that their joining has strengthened the BJP. He criticized the Congress government, alleging a lack of vision and fulfillment of promises, which has led to discontent among the MLAs.
The arrival of the nine MLAs in Shimla was met with enthusiastic reception by BJP workers, who adorned them with garlands and transformed the surroundings into a saffron hue, resonating with chants of "Jai Shri Ram."
Sudhir Sharma criticized the Congress party for its lack of vision and mere criticism of Prime Minister Modi. He stressed the importance of fulfilling promises made to the people and expressed his support for Harsh Mahajan in the Rajya Sabha elections.
Rajendra Rana lamented the lack of attention given to the grievances of the people by the Congress government. He accused the government of authoritarianism and disrespecting the MLAs, asserting that their voices were not being heard.
Ravi Thakur, reflecting on his tenure with the Congress in Lahaul-Spiti, expressed his dedication to serving the people despite facing persecution from the Congress government. He vowed to continue fighting for the rights of the people and announced plans to visit Lahaul-Spiti soon.
Chaitanya Sharma reiterated his commitment to serving the common people rather than seeking power, emphasizing the importance of addressing the demands of youth and women and promoting the development of his constituency.
Hoshiyar Singh highlighted the deteriorating situation in Himachal Pradesh, both economically and in terms of law and order, as a reason for his decision to join the BJP.
Inderdutt Lakhnapal voiced his dissatisfaction with the Congress party's leadership and its disregard for party workers' contributions and concerns. He emphasized the need for a decision in the interest of the assembly constituency and the state.
Ashish Sharma, one of the independent MLAs, stated that their decision was made in the interest of the state and the constituency, aligning with Prime Minister Modi's vision for the country's progress.
