Former Union minister RPN Singh resigns from Congress, set to join BJP
The resignation letter from RPN Singh was followed by a confirmation that he will be starting a ‘new chapter’ in his political career.
Former Union minister RPN Singh on Tuesday tendered his resignation to Congress president Sonia Gandhi from the party's primary membership ahead of Uttar Pradesh assembly elections. Singh, who was a member of Parliament from the Kushinagar constituency in the 15th Lok Sabha, shared his resignation letter on social media.
"I hereby tender my resignation from the primary membership of the Indian National Congress with immediate effect," the letter stated. "I thank you for providing me an opportunity to serve the nation, its people and the party."
The letter was followed by a confirmation that he will be starting a ‘new chapter’ in his political journey.
“Today, when the entire nation is celebrating Republic Day, I am starting a new chapter in my political life. Jai Hind,” Singh tweeted in Hindi.
While Singh has not confirmed his next destination, he is likely to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) which recently witnessed several backward caste leaders, including three ministers in the Uttar Pradesh government, switching to Akhilesh Yadav's Samajwadi Party. He has changed his Twitter bio to ‘My motto India, First, Always’.
RPN Singh was also the party in-charge of Jharkhand. Congress state unit chief Rajesh Thakur said that Singh's exit doesn't matter as "many in-charges have come and gone", reported news agency ANI.
"He must have decided after a lot of thinking. We are true soldiers of Congress, we will live and die here. We think his decision is wrong," said Thakur, as quoted by ANI.
BJP, meanwhile, said an "eminent personality" will join the party at 2.30pm today, without offering further details.
The Uttar Pradesh assembly election will be held over seven phases amid Covid-induced restrictions. The Election Commission of India has extended the ban on physical rallies, roadshows, and padyatras till January 31 as active cases of coronavirus disease remain over 2.2 million.
Follow full election coverage here
