Birender’s switchover to BJP ‘not ruled out’

Ahead of the upcoming assembly elections in Haryana, the rebel factor is worrying the Congress which is desperately looking for a comeback after a severe drubbing in the Lok Sabha polls. Congress sources did not rule out its senior leader Choudhary Birender Singh jumping the ship and joining the BJP.

Ahead of the upcoming assembly elections in Haryana, the rebel factor is worrying the Congress which is desperately looking for a comeback after a severe drubbing in the Lok Sabha polls.

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Congress sources did not rule out its senior leader Choudhary Birender Singh jumping the ship and joining the BJP.

Though Singh on his part has dismissed such claims and maintained that he has been a dedicated Congress worker for the past 42 years, another party leader said Singh has already met BJP president Amit Shah, Union home minister Rajnath Singh and senior party functionary Om Mathur.

“Choudhary Birender Singh is technically in the Congress but emotionally and sentimentally out of the party,” another state Congress leader said.

Singh could not be reached for his comments despite repeated calls.

Singh has been upset with the Congress high command for its refusal to remove chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda before the assembly elections. Singh has even categorically stated that he will not fight the coming state polls under Hooda’s leadership.

Sangwan, who had won from Dadri constituency in 2004, blamed Hooda for his move. “The Haryana Congress has been converted into the Hooda Congress. He has ruined the state. There is rampant corruption,” he said after joining the BJP.