Jolt to Congress ahead of bypolls: 3-time former MP Ratna Singh joins BJP

LUCKNOW: In a major setback to Congress ahead of crucial assembly bypoll in Pratapgarh, party’s three-time MP from the Lok Sabha seat, Rajkumari Ratna Singh, joined Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday in the presence of CM Yogi Adityanath at a rally for Raj Kumar Pal, contesting on Apna Dal ticket.

Singh, a Congress MP in 1996, 1999 and 2009, reached Gadhwa Inter College ground, the venue for CM’s rally, along with hundreds of supporters and joined BJP.

An erstwhile royalty from Kalakankar, Pratapgarh, Singh’s entry is poised to give a psychological thrust to BJP’s bypoll campaign given her political stature in the region.

Her father, Dinesh Singh, was very close to Indira Gandhi and served as external affairs minister twice in Congress governments, besides holding other portfolios at different times. He was very popular in the region and had represented the Pratapgarh seat several times.

Singh thus joins the list of Congress leaders, who crossed over to BJP though they were close to Gandhi-Nehru family. In August, Congress Rajya Sabha MP, Sanjay Sinh, had quit Congress and joined BJP. His wife, Amita, who was MLA from Amethi also moved with him.

Last year, Congress MLC from Congress bastion of Rae Bareli, Dinesh Pratap Singh, had joined BJP with his brothers. It was more embarrassing for Congress since Singh had been campaigning for the bypoll party candidate Neeraj Tripathi.

Singh’s defection comes days after Congress effected major changes in state unit and appointed Ajay Kumar Lallu as UPCC president. Sources said Singh was not happy with the changes.

Sources said BJP had kept Singh’s switch under wraps till the last moment.