Varanasi: In a blow to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, the daughter-in-law of Uttar Pradesh BJP president Mahendra Nath Pandey's brother joined the Congress on Wednesday in the presence of Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
Amrita Pandey, the daughter-in-law of Jeetendra Nath Pandey, joined the Congress in Varanasi, the Lok Sabha constituency of prime minister Narendra Modi.
Speaking to ETV Bharat, Amrita said that joining the grand old party was her own decision.
"After Gandhi's anointment as the party's general secretary, I had met her, and I feel I have an old relationship with the party."
Amrita added,"I want to work with the Congress because it works for the welfare of the people and I want to work with Priyanka Gandhi for women empowerment."
When asked she could have worked all of this with the BJP, she replied, "I did not want my father-in-law to be accused of promoting nepotism."
The blow to the BJP comes days after former chief minister and sitting MP of Uttararkhand B.C.Khanduri's son Manish Khanduri joined the Congress.
He will be contesting from Tehri Garhwal LS seat. Interestingly, he could be pitted against his father this time, as B.C.Khanduri represents it presently.
