JJP's Rebel MLA Ramkaran Kala Joins Congress Ahead of Assembly Polls

In a significant shift before the October 1 Assembly polls, JJP's rebel MLA Ramkaran Kala switched to the Congress. Welcomed by senior Congress leaders, this move is seen as a strategic decision to bolster the party's chances in Haryana. Multiple leaders from JJP and BJP have also defected to Congress.

In a significant blow to the JJP ahead of the October 1 Assembly polls, the party's rebel MLA Ramkaran Kala on Wednesday switched allegiance to the Congress.

Kala, the MLA from Shahabad constituency, joined the Congress along with his supporters in the presence of former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Congress State President Udai Bhan, and Rohtak MP Deepender Hooda, according to a party release.

Bhupinder Hooda warmly welcomed Kala, stating that he had made the right decision at the opportune time, especially as the Congress is poised to return to power in Haryana.

'This decision will pay off in the upcoming elections and will be instrumental in forming the Congress government. With several leaders from other parties joining the Congress and widespread public support for our programs, it is evident that there is a Congress wave sweeping across Haryana. The Congress is set to form the government,' Hooda asserted.

Kala further mentioned that the Congress has become the 'voice of the people' in the state, with citizens eagerly waiting for the assembly polls to oust the BJP and bring Congress into power.

Additionally, in another setback for the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP), led by former MP Ajay Singh Chautala, rebel MLAs Jogi Ram Sihag, Ram Niwas Surjakhera, Ram Kumar Gautam, and Anoop Dhanak extended their support to BJP leader Kiran Choudhry's candidacy for a Rajya Sabha seat from Haryana.

State Congress Chief Udai Bhan noted that over the past two years, numerous leaders from both the BJP and the JJP have joined the Congress.

'Our party's family is steadily expanding, while the BJP and JJP are losing their political footing. The public is now eagerly anticipating October 1, so the Congress government can be formed with a substantial majority,' Bhan emphasized.

The party's statement mentioned that along with Kala, other notable leaders like Vijay Yadav, vice president of the Aam Aadmi Party (Gurugram), and Nachhatar Singh Nain, district vice president of the JJP, also joined the Congress.

(With inputs from agencies.)