Jitin Prasada: From Congress Stalwart to BJP's Brahmin Face

Jitin Prasada, once a prominent Congress figure and minister in Manmohan Singh’s government, defected to the BJP in 2021. He has reestablished himself as a key Brahmin leader in Uttar Pradesh. He recently took oath as a member of Narendra Modi's Council of Ministers.

Jitin Prasada, who was once recognized as one of Rahul Gandhi's key 'young Turks' and served in successive Manmohan Singh governments, made a significant shift to the BJP in 2021. Since then, he has reemerged as a prominent Brahmin figure in Uttar Pradesh.

On Sunday, the 50-year-old marked his return to the Center by taking the oath as a member of the Council of Ministers led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Prasada hails from a political family with his father, Jitendra Prasada, being a veteran Congress leader. His fortunes dipped after challenging Sonia Gandhi for the party presidency in 2000.

Post his departure from Congress, Prasada joined the BJP before the 2022 UP Assembly elections and took up the role of an MLC. Under Yogi Adityanath's government, he now oversees the Public Works Department (PWD).

In his recent achievement, Prasada won from the Pilibhit Lok Sabha seat, defeating Samajwadi Party's Bhagwat Saran Gangwar by a substantial margin of 1,64,935 votes.

Jitin Prasada's political career spans multiple generations within the Congress but his calculated move to the BJP marked a new chapter. His campaign consistently highlighted the work accomplished by PM Modi's administration over the last decade, frequently portraying himself as a 'doot' (messenger) of Modi in his speeches.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)