After Jitin Prasad, will more Congress rebels join BJP ahead of Uttar Pradesh assembly polls?

The Congress had earlier in 2019 survived a scare of Jitin Prasada switching sides to BJP after Jyotiraditya Scindia succeeded in stopping him from doing so. However, Scindia later joined BJP in March 2020. Jitin Prasada's father Jitendra Prasada was a prominent 'Brahmin' face in Uttar Prasad, who challenged Sonia Gandhi's leadership in 1999 and contested against her for the post of party chief.

New Delhi: Former Union Minister and senior Congress leader from Uttar Pradesh Jitin Prasada on Wednesday (June 9) joined BJP in the presence of Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal and Rajya Sabha member Anil Baluni at party headquarters. The move came as a big jolt to the Congress party at least eight months ahead of the assembly elections in 403 seats in Uttar Pradesh. Sources in the BJP said that he may be asked to contest the upcoming state assembly polls in 2022 and that he might play a role in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The Congress had earlier in 2019 survived a scare of Jitin Prasada switching sides to BJP after Jyotiraditya Scindia succeeded in stopping him from doing so. However, Scindia later joined BJP in March 2020. Jitin Prasada's father Jitendra Prasada was a prominent 'Brahmin' face in Uttar Prasad, who challenged Sonia Gandhi's leadership in 1999 and contested against her for the post of party chief. He died in 2002.