Raipur In a major political development barely three months ahead of assembly elections, Dharamjeet Singh, the legislator from Lormi representing the Janta Congress, has formally joined the the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Joining him are retired Indian Foreign Service officer SSD Badgaiya and Dharmendra Giri Goswami. The trio was welcomed into the BJP fold by the state president, Arun Sao. Expressing his reasons for the switch, Dharmjeet Singh emphasized, “My aim is to defeat the Congress and promote the growth of the lotus symbol. I had parted ways with Congress in 2016. Following that, in collaboration with Ajit Jogi, we established a new political entity. Despite securing five seats and earning 11% of the vote, circumstances took a turn after Jogi’s unfortunate demise. This is something that everyone is well aware of.” Singh further elaborated, “I am aligning myself with a national party, the Bharatiya Janata Party, which stands dedicated to the nation and is guided by leaders like Narendra Modi. Their commitment to serving the underprivileged and standing up against adversaries has motivated me to become a part of the Bharatiya Janata Party under the leadership of Narendra Modi.” Responding to inquiries about the prospects of the BJP forming the state government, Singh commented, “Are liquor sales banned in the state? Is the law and order situation well-managed? Are the roads in a satisfactory condition? We have witnessed numerous governments rise and fall, each with the hope of coming into power. However, the dynamics have shifted. Let go of past notions, and focus on safeguarding the government. The BJP will ascend to power. The upcoming elections will reveal whose later years will be adversely affected.” His frequent appearances alongside BJP legislators in the assembly, coupled with his critiques of the government’s actions, fueled these speculations. Eventually, on Sunday, he formalized his transition to the BJP. Following Dharmjeet Singh’s move, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel weighed in, stating, “Dharmjeet Singh seems to have lost confidence in the people of Lormi. His motivations for seeking alternative constituencies stem from his diminishing popularity in Lormi. By affiliating with the BJP, he is potentially compromising his later years.” Dharmjeet Singh, once a close associate of former Chief Minister Ajit Jogi, made his entry into the state assembly in 1998 by securing victory from Lormi. His political journey included subsequent representation of Lormi as a Congress candidate in the 2003 and 2008 elections. Dharmjeet Singh’s decision to join the BJP follows his expulsion from the Congress party. His removal was a consequence of his attempts to subvert party policies and dilute the regional ideology of Chhattisgarh. As a result, he faced a six-year expulsion from the party.
