New Delhi, February 26
In what would come as a huge blow to the BJP ahead of Lok Sabha elections, the niece of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee is all set to join the Congress tomorrow.

Former national vice-president of the BJP Karuna Shukla has met Congress president Sonia Gandhi in the Capital today and would be welcomed into the party fold at a high-level function at the Congress headquarters tomorrow.

Shukla’s entry would be flaunted by the Congress at a time when its former ally Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) is expected to join the BJP. Interestingly, BJP's PM candidate Narendra Modi would be in city tomorrow.

Shukla belongs to Chhattisgarh. Sources told The Tribune that Janardan Dwivedi, veteran Congress leader and party general secretary in charge of organisation, would welcome Shukla into the party in the presence of All-India Congress Committee (AICC) Treasurer and Rajya Sabha member from Chhattisgarh Motilal Vora; Congress general secretary in charge of Chhattisgarh BK Hariprasad and other state leaders.

The Congress has promised Shukla a Lok Sabha ticket from Chhattisgarh. Though she wants to contest from Bilaspur, a final decision would soon be taken.