Brijendra Singh, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament from Hisar, has tendered his resignation from the primary membership of the party and subsequently switched allegiance to the Congress. The move, which came as a surprise to many, was announced in the presence of senior Congress leaders, including the party’s national president, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Haryana affairs in-charge, Deepak Babria, in Delhi.
Brijendra Singh, a former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, had joined the BJP prior to the 2019 general elections after taking voluntary retirement from a distinguished 21-year career in civil service. In a significant victory, he defeated Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) leader Dushyant Chautala by a substantial margin of 3.14 lakh votes.
The decision to part ways with the BJP was attributed to “compelling political reasons,” as stated by Brijendra Singh himself in a message posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). He expressed gratitude towards the BJP leadership, including party national president JP Nadda, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Home Minister Amit Shah, for the opportunity to serve as the Member of Parliament from Hisar. Following his resignation from the primary membership of the BJP, he also stepped down as an MP.
Brijendra Singh’s father, Birender Singh, a seasoned politician and former Union minister, revealed that his son’s departure from the BJP was driven by ideological and political differences. He cited issues such as the ongoing farmers’ protest, concerns regarding women wrestlers, the Agniveer scheme, and a belief in secularism as factors influencing the decision. Birender Singh hinted at his own possible transition to the Congress, with plans for a significant rally in the offing.
Responding to queries regarding the move, Dushyant Chautala, the Deputy Chief Minister of Haryana and leader of the JJP, expressed surprise at Brijendra Singh’s decision and stated that the circumstances behind the shift were not entirely clear. He indicated that Brijendra Singh had been contemplating the move for approximately a year, and speculated on the possibility of his candidacy from either the Hisar or Sonepat parliamentary seat.
The induction of Brijendra Singh into the Congress fold was met with approval from Haryana Congress leaders, including party president Udai Bhan and former state chief Kumari Selja. They interpreted the move as indicative of a decline in the BJP’s influence in Haryana politics and expressed optimism regarding the potential involvement of Birender Singh in future party activities.
Sources By Agencies