Odisha Congress veteran whose vote defeated Vajpayee govt joins BJP

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, June 12, 2015: Former Odisha Chief Minister Giridhar Gamang on Friday joined the BJP. The veteran Congress leader, who quit the party after 43 years accusing it of humiliating him, met BJP president Amit Shah in New Delhi.

 

Last month, the nine-time Congress MP had announced his resignation from the Congress. "I have sent my resignation letter to AICC president Sonia Gandhi. Since the time of Vajpayee Government’s fall due to one vote in 1999, I have been humiliated and lost self-respect. Though I voted against the Vajpeyee government in wake of a whip, the party did not come to my rescue at any point of time," Gamang had said.

"from 1972 to 2015, long 43 years, I have served in different party posts in the Congress, as an MP, central minister, chief minister. I have never uttered or made any statement against my leaders and Congress party. As a disciplined party member, I have never lost the patience nor deviated from the principle for the interest of my political life and interest in the Congress party," he said in the letter.

Gamang was elected from Odisha’s Koraput Lok Sabha seat eight times in a row since 1972. He was elected from the same seat in 2004 for the ninth time. The Congress veteran had also been a Union Minister under Indira Gandhi for one year and five years each under Rajiv Gandhi and PV Narasihma Rao.

However, he said the 1999 no-confidence motion against the then Vajpayee government became a turning point in his political life. The 13-day government had fallen because of his vote. "Why will any political party take me? I have been accused of defeating the Vajpayee government. Therefore, the BJP may not accept me. There is no question of joining any regional party," he had said after quitting the Congress.

Gamang joined the BJP a day after former Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, who is eyeing a major role in upcoming elections, also joined the party.

 

Courtesy: Indiatoday