Uttarakhand cabinet minister Yashpal Arya and son join Congress

In a major blow for the ruling dispensation in the state, Minister of Transport in Government of Uttarakhand Yashpal Arya and his son Sanjay Arya have joined the Congress.

Dehradun (Uttarakhand):In a major upset for the BJP ahead of theUttarakhand assembly elections 2022, Minister of Transport and Social Welfare in the Dhami government, Yashpal Arya and his son Sanjeev Arya, an MLA from the Nainital assembly seat have joined the Congress. They joined in the presence of Congress General Secretary incharge KC Venugopal, chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala, Uttrakhand former Chief Minister Harish Rawat, state incharge Devendra Yadav, PCC Chief Ganesh Godiyal and CLP leader Pritam Singh at All India Congress Committee headquarters.

Earlier today, both the leaders also met Congress former President Rahul Gandhi at his residence, after which they tendered their resignation.

While addressing during a press conference, Yashpal Arya said, "I will work for Congress with full dedication and without any desire. Whatever responsibility will be given to me, I will accept that wholeheartedly. I believe if Congress will get strong, the Constitution of our country will get stronger."

While KC Venugopal addressing the media said, "Today Yashpal Arya and Sanjiv Arya has joined Congress party. This is a clear message for Uttarakhand Elections that the wind is flowing in the favour of Congress party."

Uttarakhand Congress incharge Devendra Yadav showed full confidence that Congress will win 3/4th majority in the upcoming Assembly polls in Uttarakhand.

Harish Rawat said, "It is not true that BJP didn't give anything to Yashpal ji. He has been a transport minister, excise minister, and also handled many other portfolios. But today we want to welcome him back in Congress. A part of our (Congress) body which used to hurt us has now reunited."

It is learnt that the cabinet minister had reached Delhi with his supporters and has been preparing for joining the Congress for the past several days. Speculations are also rife that Arya had demanded 6 tickets from the Congress high command for the upcoming assembly elections, however, an agreement could not be reached.

Both Yashpal Arya and Sanjiv Arya had left the Congress party in 2017 to join hands with BJP. After winning the polls, BJP had rewarded Yashpal Arya by appointing him as a Cabinet minister in the state.

Two Congressmen and an independent MLA join BJP:

The game of defection has been at its peak in the state for the last few months. After Congress MLA Rajkumar and Pritam Singh Pawar from Garhwal Mandal, independent MLA Ram Singh Kaida from Kumaon Mandal recently joined the BJP.

Congress' 9 rebel MLAs had joined BJP:

Prior to the 2017 assembly elections, 9 rebel Congress MLAs, including former Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna, had joined the BJP.