After joining the Congress, Lariya launched a scathing attack at the BJP, accusing it of indulging in rampant corruption.
News Edition 24 Desk: In the run-up to the Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections, the state’s ruling BJP is witnessing several jolts as disgruntled leaders continued to shift to the Congress.
More worryingly, cracks are surfacing within the old-time BJP families as the brother of Pradeep Lariya – the three-time BJP MLA from Naryawali-SC seat of Sagar district joined the Congress along with hundreds of his supporters.
Hemant Lariya was reportedly disappointed with the state BJP leadership after he was denied a ticket for municipal election from Makronia in Naryawali in June last year. On Sunday, he joined the Congress in Bhopal in presence of state party chief Kamal Nath and senior leader Digvijaya Singh.
After joining the Congress, Lariya launched a scathing attack at the BJP, accusing it of indulging in rampant corruption.
“Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan talks about zero tolerance against corruption, but in my Naryawali assembly constituency, one road is built thrice in quick succession,” he said while obliquely targeting his own MLA brother.
Notably, Naryawali-SC seat in Sagar district, which has been a BJP fort since 2003, has been won since the last three times by Pradip Lariya. This seat is considered among the 66 BJP stronghold assembly segments.
Lariya’s switchover into the Congress is the fourth major crossover of members from strong saffron party supporting families ahead of the Assembly elections.