14 Rajasthan MLAs join Congress
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Aug 31 — Two former Union Ministers and 14 MLAs from Rajasthan, including two from the Bharatiya Janata Party, today joined the Congress, giving the party a boost ahead of the assembly elections due in the state later this year.

Despite the defections, the BJP sought to underplay the event stating that those who crossed over had been indulging in anti-party activities and that the Congress would not benefit from their joining.

Mr Sis Ram Ola, MP from Rajasthan, and Mr Satpal Maharaj, both Ministers in the United Front government, today joined the Congress from their nascent Indira Congress (Secular).

Both Mr Ola and Mr Maharaj, belonged to the breakaway All-India Indira Congress (Tiwari) and then formed this new outfit after the Tiwari Congress merged with the parent party.

However, a major gain for the Congress was the joining of 14 MLAs including three former ministers in the BJP government in Rajasthan who had resigned from the Bhairon Singh Shekhawat government.They are Mr Ganga Ram Choudhary, Mr Gyan Singh Chaudhary and Mr Shashi Dutta.

The two BJP MLAs who crossed over to the Congress include Mr Gopi Chand Gujjar and Mr Moti Lal Kharera. The BJP viewed this development as a non-issue and said those who moved over had been indulging in anti-party activities for some time.

The BJP vice-president, Mr K L Sharma, said the defections would have no impact on the stability of the Shekhawat government.

The other MLAs who joined are Mrs Shashi Dutta, Mr Doola Ram, Mr Shivnath Singh, Mr Bhanwar Lal Sharma, Mr Sarvan Kumar, Mr Ratan Lal Tambi, Mr Mahadeo Singh, Mr Bhim Raj Bhatti and Mr Chaina Ram.

The Congress spokesman, Mr Ajit Jogi said two MLAs, Mr Hiralal Saharia and Mr Madho Singh Diwan, who had applied to join the party, were not present today.

The AICC general secretaries in charge of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, Mr Madhavrao Scindia and Mr Tariq Anwar, and the PCC chiefs of the two states, Mr Ashok Gehlot and Mr Salman Khursheed, were present on the occasion.

Apart from those from Rajasthan, Indira Congress (Secular) members from Uttar Pradesh also joined the Congress.