Ravi Raja's Political Shift: From Congress Veteran to BJP Ally

Ravi Raja, a former opposition leader in the BMC and long-time Congress member, has joined the BJP, marking a significant political shift ahead of the Maharashtra assembly polls. His decision, welcomed by BJP stalwarts Fadnavis and Shelar, ends a 44-year tenure with Congress.

In a significant political realignment, Congress stalwart and former opposition leader in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Ravi Raja, has switched allegiance to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

This move comes ahead of the approaching Maharashtra assembly elections, where senior BJP leaders, including Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Mumbai's party chief Ashish Shelar, have warmly welcomed Raja into the party fold.

Raja, who had been with Congress for 44 years, has officially resigned from the grand old party, addressing his resignation to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. BJP leader Ashish Shelar praised Raja as an invaluable asset with deep knowledge of Mumbai's civic issues, predicting that his shift will bolster BJP's standings in the election.

(With inputs from agencies.)