In a fresh setback to the Bharatiya Janata Party just months ahead of the crucial Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Pramod Tandon, a key leader from Indore and a close aide of Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, quit from the primary membership of the party. Tandon was seen a staunch Scindia loyalist and had joined the BJP in February 2020 following Scindia’s rebellion against the Congress.
In a formal letter addressed to BJP state president VD Sharma, Pramod Tandon announced his resignation from both his primary membership and his role as a state executive member of the party.
“I have been a close associate of Madhavrao Scindia. When I joined the BJP alongside Jyotiraditya Scindia, we shared a strong bond, but Scindia’s priorities have since evolved. I haven’t had any communication with Scindia for the past six months. I’m resigning due to the BJP’s perceived arrogance and dictatorial tendencies,” news agency ANI quoted Tandon as having said during a meeting with Congress city President Surjit Singh Chadha and acting president Golu Agnihotri.
Another BJP leader Dinesh Malhar also quit the BJP along with Tandon. Both leaders are likely to be inducted into the Congress by party leader Kamal Nath in a formal ceremony. The development leaves the BJP in quite a fix in Indore where the party has lost two of its most prominent leaders.
Also read:Canada-India trade talks paused on political differences: Official
The development comes close on the heels of Samandersingh Patel, another prominent supporter of Jyotiraditya Scindia, departing from the BJP. There are indications that both Pramod Tandon and Dinesh Malhar may seek membership in the Congress party on September 23.
A number of BJP leaders, including those aligned with Jyotiraditya Scindia’s and sitting MLAs, have switched allegiance to the Congress, shaking up the political landscape ahead of the assembly elections.
Madhya Pradesh is scheduled to hold assembly polls later this year, where legislators for all 230 Assembly constituencies will be elected.
In the 2018 assembly polls, the Congress assumed power in the state, with veteran Kamal Nath serving as Chief Minister. However, political turbulence in 2020 saw Jyotiraditya Scindia and 22 loyalists switch sides to the saffron camp. Subsequently, the Congress lost its majority, and the BJP formed the government, with Shivraj Singh Chouhan returning as Chief Minister.
(With inputs from ANI)