Nation first, party later, says Jaiswal after joining BJP

VARANASI: Term it political expediency or compulsion, Vijay Prakash Jaiswal, who had contested against Narendra Modi in 2014 parliamentary election on BSP ticket, has become his great admirer just before the general elections and joined BJP in Lucknow on Tuesday. In 2009, he had contested Lok Sabha election on AD ticket from Varanasi.

Though Jaiswal claimed it was the call of the nation that made him join BJP, he was left with few options as the seat had gone to SP post SP-BSP alliance.

“Jab desh ki aan, baan, shaan ki baat aati hai, to party ka koi matlab nahi hota. Desh pahle, party baad mein (When there’s the question of country’s pride, party has no significance. Nation first, party later),” said Jaiswal when asked why he quit BSP to join the saffron party.

“Inspired by the work of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, I joined BJP to serve the nation in a better way,” he told TOI on Wednesday while terming Modi as the “tiger of India”.

In 2014 parliamentary polls, he had stood fourth with 60,579 (5.88%) votes after Arvind Kejriwal (AAP) and Ajay Rai (Congress). In 2009, he had contested from Varanasi on AD ticket against BJP’s Murli Manohar Joshi and stood fifth with 65,912 (9.90%) votes.

He had shifted loyalty to BSP in 2014, when AD, being a part of NDA, did not field a candidate.

As per his affidavit submitted during 2014 polls, Jaiswal had criminal charges under sections 147 (rioting), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 506 (criminal intimidation), 224 (resistance or obstruction by a person to his lawful apprehension), and 511 (attempting to commit offences punishable with imprisonment for life or other imprisonment) of IPC.

A 10th pass Jaiswal is the resident of Lalpur in Pandeypur area.