India: 'Bizarre' communist joins BJP along with grandson of Rajnarain

Kaushal Kishore joins BJP along with Rajnarain grandson
TNN | Jan 28, 2014, 03.45 AM IST

LUCKNOW: Minister of state in the former Mulayam cabinet and Rashtravadi Communist Party leader Kaushal Kishore along with Dharmendra Singh, the grandson of Rajnarain, who defeated Indira Gandhi in 1977 from Rae Bareli Lok Sabha seat, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in New Delhi on Monday. Former two-time Bahujan Samaj Party MP from Sitapur, Rajesh Verma has also joined the BJP.

The joining took place in the presence of state BJP chief Laxmikant Bajpayi and chairman of state campaigning committee Dr Ramapati Ram Tripathi in New Delhi. Kishore, who has been MLA from Malihabad constituency and is supposed to have backing of Pasi community, was expelled from Communist Party of India in 2001. He then floated his Rashtravadi Communist Party and contested and won the assembly election from Malihabad.

He was made minister of state in Mulayam Singh Yadav government. But, having been a defector, Kishore turned his loyalty towards Congress and even contested Lok Sabha election from Mohanlalganj seat on Congress ticket in 2004.

Bajpayi, however, said these leaders would increase prospects of BJP in the coming Lok Sabha election.

Verma, who had been BSP MP from Sitapur twice in 1999 and 2004, also joined the BJP.

Similarly, Dharmendra Singh, who holds an MBA degree and was working in the insurance sector, has also joined the BJP.

In 1977, Dharmedra's grandfather Rajnarain contested Lok Sabha election on Janata Party ticket from Rae Bareli and defeated Indira Gandhi. The outcome is rated one of the biggest upsets in the Indian political history.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Kaushal-Kishore-joins-BJP-along-with-Rajnarain-grandson/articleshow/29463887.cms?intenttarget=no