Former BJP leaders Ghanshyam Tiwari, Surendra Goyal join Congress in presence of Rahul Gandhi

Former BJP leaders Ghanshyam Tiwari and Surendra Goyal joined the Congress in presence of party president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday. 

Earlier in the day, Tiwari had confirmed that he will join the Congress. He also took a dig at Narendra Modi saying Rahul Gandhi is a better choice for the post of prime minister. 

"I struggled in the BJP but now I feel that it is important to join Congress for the protection of democratic values," Tiwari said, adding that he would not contest the Lok Sabha elections. 

In 2017, Tiwari had opened a front against BJP leader and then chief minister Vasundhara Raje and resigned from the party in June 2018.

He had openly criticised and accused Raje of corruption and made several complaints against her to the party high command. He alleged that he was not heard in the party.

Tiwari had floated Bharat Vahini Party ahead of the Rajasthan Assembly elections in 2018. He contested the election from Sanganer seat from where he not only lost but also got his security forfeited.

On the other hand, the then Rajasthan minister Surendra Goyal had resigned from the BJP in December 2018 after being denied ticket for the assembly polls in the state.

The water resources minister in Vasundhara Raje’s government was dropped from his Jaitaran seat in Pali district and was replaced by Avinash Gehlot.