Jammu, Nov 3 (KNS): Former minister Prem Sagar Aziz on Tuesday quit the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and rejoined the Congress at a function held at the party headquarters, Rajiv Bhawan, in Jammu, in the presence of Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Tariq Hameed Karra and several senior party leaders.
Welcoming Aziz back into the party, Karra claimed that a political shift was underway in the country, with growing disillusionment among BJP leaders and supporters over the ruling party's policies.
"The winds of change have started blowing from the BJP towards the Congress. People are now looking towards the Congress and Rahul Gandhi for future leadership," Karra said.
He claimed that the BJP's political dominance was nearing its end and expressed confidence that the Congress would return to power at the Centre in the next parliamentary elections.
Karra credited Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi with exposing what he alleged were irregularities in the electoral process, including allegations of "vote chori", and criticised the functioning of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The Congress leader accused the BJP of pursuing divisive politics, authoritarian governance and policies favouring big corporate interests, claiming that several leaders within the ruling party were increasingly dissatisfied.
"Many people are feeling suffocated in the BJP after nearly 12 years of its rule. Prem Sagar Aziz's return to the Congress is an indication of this growing discontent," he said.
Referring to a recent interaction involving Rahul Gandhi, Karra claimed that a young former BJP supporter had publicly expressed regret over backing the party's policies, saying that more people were beginning to question the decisions of the Narendra Modi-led government.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
Karra described Aziz as a hardworking leader and recalled having worked with him in the Finance Department during their tenure in government.
Speaking on the occasion, Aziz expressed regret over his decision to join the BJP and said he had realised that the Congress remained committed to inclusive politics and democratic values.
He said Karra had earlier advised him against joining the BJP and that his experiences had reinforced his belief in the Congress's political ideology.
"I regret joining the BJP. Congress is the only party that believes in inclusive policies, and I will work to strengthen the organisation under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi and Tariq Hameed Karra," Aziz said.
Kathua District Congress Committee president Pankaj Dogra said Aziz's return would strengthen the party's organisational base in the district.
Several senior Congress leaders, including working president Raman Bhalla, former ministers Mula Ram, Dr Manohar Lal Sharma and Choudhary Gharu Ram, chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma, former MLA Balbir Singh, former MLCs Ved Mahajan and Subash Gupta, and party treasurer Rajnish Sharma attended the function.
DCC Jammu Rural president Neeraj Kundan, NSUI president Ajay Lakhotra, SC Cell chairman Ashok Bhagat, Congress leader Rakesh Choudhary and several district and block-level functionaries were also present.
Party leaders garlanded Aziz and welcomed his return, expressing confidence that his re-entry would strengthen the Congress in Kathua and adjoining areas. (KNS)