Jitin Prasada, former UPA Minister, joins BJP ahead of UP polls

In Congress, he says, he was unable to serve interests of his people and society

Former Union Minister Jitin Prasada on Wednesday quit the Congress where, he said, he felt “he was unable to serve the interests of his people and society”, and joined the BJP. Mr Prasad’s induction took place at the BJP’s national headquarters in New Delhi in the presence of Railway Minister Piyush Goyal and BJP media cell in charge Anil Baluni. Mr. Goyal specially mentioned Mr. Prasada’s father, the late senior Congress leader Jitendra Prasada, as one who had rendered great service to the people of Uttar Pradesh. “I have been watching Jitin Prasada for many years, he lost his father when he was quite young, but he took on the mantle, and decided to serve Uttar Pradesh, winning two Lok Sabha elections in 2004 and 2009. He has been diligent in his push for development of his constituency, lobbying hard with the government since 2014 for a railway project in the area,” he said. Mr Goyal, sources said, was instrumental in negotiations between Mr. Prasada and the BJP top leadership before the induction.