Rajasthan Elections 2023: Former minister in the Vasundhara Raje-led cabinet, Devi Singh Bhati, rejoined the BJP in the presence of state party president C.P. Joshi, leader of opposition Rajendra Rathore, and in-charge Arun Singh. This comes a day after Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP President J.P. Nadda held a party meeting in Jaipur.
"I have returned to BJP after 5 years. The party has embraced me. Due to certain circumstances, I was separated at some point. I had discussions with senior officials. Whatever grievances there were have gone away. I have also spoken to Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal. We both are satisfied. Together we will form the BJP government in 2023," said the former minister.
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Devi Singh Bhati was unhappy after Arjun Ram Meghwal was given the party ticket from Bikaner in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, and left the party showing his discontent.
He had openly campaigned against Meghwal since then. Meanwhile, his return to the party was long-awaited and there were constant talks to expedite his return which bore fruit on Thursday when he rejoined the party.
Along with Devi Singh Bhati, Shravan Chaudhary, B.L. Rinwa and Bhagchand Saini also joined the BJP.
It is worth noting that Bhati was elected for the first time as an MLA from the Kolayat assembly constituency in 1980. He had been continuously winning from that seat since then until 2008.
Bhati is seen as an ardent supporter of the former CM of Rajasthan, Vasundhara Raje. In a recent statement, Bhati also mentioned that unless Raje is given leadership, his supporters will not be respected by the BJP.
However, dumping all the issues he joined the party and mentioned that he is now satisfied with his position in the party.
Before the assembly elections, many veterans had already joined the BJP. Former MP Subhash Mahariya had left Congress and joined BJP on May 19. Om Prakash Pahadia, son of veteran Congress leader and former Chief Minister Jagannath Pahadia, a family member of former President Pratibha Patil and Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee member Vijendra Singh Shekhawat joined BJP on June 12.
On July 23, 17 leaders had joined BJP. Apart from Congress-CPI(M) leaders, former IAS-IPS were also included in this. Former CPM MLA Pawan Duggal, who agitated against the Vasundhara government, also became 'Bhagwadhari'. He had joined BJP with his wife Rani Duggal.
