Former Maharashtra Minister Kripashankar Singh Quits Congress, Likely To Join BJP

In yet another jolt to the Congress ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections, former Maharashtra minister and Mumbai Chief Kripashankar Singh on Tyuesday quit the Congress party. Singh, who gave up the party's primary membership, is likely to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). 

The resignation of the prominent Congress leader has come days after his meeting with Maharashtra BJP vice-president Prasad Lad, who is considered a close aide of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. This was the second big resignation of the day in the Congress party. 

Earlier in the day, actor-turned-politician Urmila Matondkar had also resigned from the Congress, blaming the petty in-house party politics.

Urmila, who was the Congress candidate from Mumbai North seat in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, said: "First thought of resignation came to me when after my repeated efforts, no action was taken in pursuance of my letter dated 16th May, addressed to then Mumbai Congress President Mr Milind Deora."

RELATED

Following the party's 2019 drubbing in Maharashtra and across the country, several leaders in the Congress party have switched their loyalities by joining either the BJP or the Shiv Sena. Former Maharashtra chief minister Narayan Rane, who was elected to the Rajya Sabha after quitting Congress, also announced to join the saffron party. 

According to BJP sources, NCP MLA Rana Jagjitsinh Patil and Satara MP Udayanraje Bhosale would be joining the party soon. The extent of resignation in the BJP and the NCP can be understood from Amit Shah's remark that if BJP opens its door completely, except Sharad Pawar and Prithviraj Chavan, no one will remain in their respective parties.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Kripashankar Singh was the former Mumbai Congress president.
• Singh's resignation came  days after meeting Maharashtra BJP vice-president.
• Earlier in the day, Urmila Matondkar had also quit the Congress party.