Four-time Congress MLA and former Rajasthan Minister Mahendrajeet Malviya joins BJP

Four-time MLA Mahendrajeet Singh Malviya joins BJP in Rajasthan for Vagad region's development, influenced by PM Modi.

In a setback to the Congress in Rajasthan, four-time MLA and former Minister Mahendrajeet Singh Malviya joined the BJP on February 19.

Mr. Malviya, the MLA from Bagidora in Banswara district, said he joined the BJP for the development of the Vagad region.

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Vagad is a tribal region in south Rajasthan and comprises the Banswara and the Dungarpur districts.

Mr. Malviya, who is also a former MP, reached the BJP office in Jaipur and was welcomed to the party by its Rajasthan in-charge Arun Singh, state unit chief C. P. Joshi and other leaders.

The lawmaker said he met BJP chief J. P. Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi on February 18 and added that he was influenced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address during the saffron party's national convention.

Targeting the Congress, Mr. Malviya said he was hurt by the party's refusal to attend the consecration ceremony at the Ram temple in Ayodhya.