KL Report
SRINAGAR
Bharatiya Janata Party leader Girdhari Lal Bhagat, who had filed his nomination papers as official BJP candidate from Ramban constituency has joined NC. The party had forced him to vacate the position for a new candidate
Bhagat on Monday joined NC when Chief Minister Omar Abduallh presided over a major rally. Omar welcomed Bhagat in the party-fold and said this will further strengthen the party at the grass roots level.
Bhagat pledged his support to NC candidate Dr Chaman Lal, saying he and his supporters would work for ensuring his victory with a huge margin. Devender Singh Rana was also present on the occasion.
Bhagat had filed his nomination papers as the BJP candidate and produced all requisite documents, including the authority letter of the BJP parliamentary board. A few days later, he withdrew his papers and paved way for Neelam Langeh. The factors responsible for this were immediately not known.
This is not the first instance of politicians jumping to other parties once they are denied mandate. Earlier BJPs sitting MLA Jagdish raj Sapolia joined Congress after he was denied a mandate. He was representing Basholi for six years after deserting Congress earlier. Now he is back to his earlier party.
