Amethi Cong leader says he went to meet Smriti Irani. Photo claims he ‘joined BJP’

Congress leader Vikas Agrahari said he was accorded a formal welcome when he went to meet Smrit Irani but that was not BJP's flag around his neck.

Updated on: Apr 18, 2024, 19:47:47 IST

By HT News Desk

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Amethi Congress leader Vikas Agrahari on Thursday said he did not join the BJP as claimed by news reports showing his photo with Amethi MP Smriti Irani. The Congress leader said he went to meet the MP and was accorded a formal welcome when he was photographed with the BJP leaders But after he left, he claimed to have found out reports that he joined the BJP. "I went to meet the MP with some issues pertaining to my area. The media claimed I had joined the BJP. But there is no evidence. There is no video, I did not give any speech there. But the media made me join the BJP," Vikas Agrahari told the news agency ANI.

Amethi Congress leader Vikas Agrahari refuted reports of his joining the BJP after his photo with Smriti Irani went viral.

The incident came as the Congress was in the middle of an Ammethi doldrum with the name of the Lok Sabha candidate not yet finalised. In 2019, Rahul Gandhi was defeated by Smriti Irani from Amethi as until then Amethi used to be the Congress bastion. On a question on Amethi, Rahul Gandhi said on Wednesday if the Congress Election Committee decides to field him from Amethi, alongside Wayanad, he will abide by the decision.

"I never left the Congress and I have not joined the BJP. Congress is in my blood and soul. I will always remain a Congressman," Vikas Agrahari said.

On the photo with Smriti Irani in which Vikas Agrahari can be seen with a saffron flag around his neck, he said it was not a BJP flag; it was just a saffron flag.

Amethi will go to the election on May 20 but the Congress has not yet announced any candidate against Smriti Irani though the party bargained the seat from the Samajwadi Party. While the Congress candidate from Amethi remains a suspense, Robert Vadra expressed interest in contesting the Lok Sabha election this time and said the people of Amethi wanted him to represent them.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Smriti Irani

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.