Ex-minister joins BSP

Chandigarh, December 20

Former minister and president, Rashtriya Janhit Party, Kripa Ram Punia joined the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) here today. Punia, who was a minister in the Devi Lal Cabinet from 1987 to 1989, joined the BSP in the presence of Dr Meghraj, a former UP minister and in charge of the party affairs in Haryana, Punjab and Chandigarh.

Meghraj said Punia had been assigned the job of touring all over the state.

“Being a Dalit leader, I have always believed that the votes of our community should not split. Even though I had floated the RJP in 2007, I did not field candidates in 2009 or later, as I did not want the split of Dalit votes between my party and the BSP,” said Punia. — TNS