BJP's Dayanand Chandela joins Congress

New Delhi, Sep 23 (UNI) In another shot in the arm for the Congress on the eve of the Assembly polls in Delhi, former Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Dayanand Chandelia today joined the party along with his son and daughter-in-law, MCD councillors from the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha.

Chandelia, who had, during the Monsoon session of the Delhi Assembly last week, announced that he was quitting the BJP, joined the Congress in the presence of Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and the president of the Delhi Pradesh Congress committee Jai Prakash Agarwal.

He was accompanied by his son Meghraj Chandelia and daughter-in-law Meenakshi Chandelia, JMM councillors from ward no 107 and 108 of the MCD.

Addressing reporters after joining the Congress, Mr Chandelia, an MLA representing the Khyala Assembly constituency, said he was joining the party as he opposed the BJP's criticism of the Delhi Government's move for regularisation of the unauthorised colonies in the city.

Chandelia said he had written to the Congress leadership expressing his intention of joining the party.

''I have always been a supporter of the Congress policies. As a councillor in 2002 and as MLA I have never unnecessarily opposed the policies of the Congress,''Chandelia said.

Speaking on the occasion, Ms Dikshit said the entry in the Congress of Mr Chandelia, who is unhappy with BJP's unnecessary opposition of the regularisation of the unauthorised colonies by the Delhi Government, shows that the Congress has always followed people friendly policies.

''I feel Mr Chandelia's entry in the Congress will only strengthen the party,''Ms Dikshit said.

Coming close on the heels of former Delhi NCP chief Ramvir Singh Bidhuri joining the party a few days ago, the entry of Mr Chandelia is seen as a boost to the fortunes of the Congress just on the eve of the Assembly elections in Delhi.

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