New Delhi: In a jolt to Congress ahead of assembly elections, its Chhattisgarh working president and Pali-Tanakhar MLA Ramdayal Uike joined the Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday.
The leader was given saffron party’s membership in the presence of chief minister Raman Singh and BJP chief Amit Shah, who is on a two-day visit to poll-bound Chhattisgarh. Shah has been travelling around to address the booth-level workers of the party at four places.
“Tribal leaders are neglected and not favoured in the Congress. There is a difference in what they say and what they do,” Uike said.
The four-time MLA was a BJP leader in 2000 but joined Congress, along with 17 others, after being persuaded by Ajit Jogi.
The adivasi leader is known for making controversial remarks. In April, Uike had claimed that Congress would throw BJP out of power from Chhattisgarh and would resort to “sticks and bullets” if needed.
“Lathi, goli chalana padhe to chalayenge, lekin Bharatiya Janata Party ko Chhattisgarh se bhagayenge (will use sticks and bullets, if required, to throw the BJP out of the state),” the Pali-Tanakhar MLA had said.
A month later, he asked voters in the state to beat up saffron party volunteers and leaders with empty liquor bottles when they come to seek votes.