Congress sitting Jalandhar MLA joins BJP

Jalandhar, Feb 3 (UNI) In a big jolt to ruling Congress, the party's sitting MLA and Jalandhar District Congress President Raj Kumar Gupta today joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Mr Gupta announced his decision to quit Congress at a press conference here today attended by BJP General Secretary Arun Jaitley and a number of other leaders.

Mr Gupta's corporator son Pawan Gupta and several of his followers also joined the BJP.

Mr Jaitley welcomed all new entrants in the party fold and said that Mr Gupta's entry in the BJP would further brighten the party prospects in the assembly elections.

Mr Gupta said that he had quit Congress in view of ''corrupt conduct of the party leaders and ignorance of committed workers like me''.

He alleged that Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh and his coterie was indulged in corrupt acts and they even sold the party tickets for the assembly elections.

Mr Gupta, a sitting MLA from Jalandhar Central sought party ticket from his seat but the Congress denied him ticket and fielded Jalandhar Urban Develeopment Trust Chairman Tejinder Singh Bittu from the seat.

Mr Gupta was publicly expressing his dismay over the party's decision repeatedly and his displeasure today culminated in the defection.

UNI