By IANS,
New Delhi : Ahead of assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Friday suffered a setback in Delhi when one of its legislators, Dayanand Chandila, resigned from the house and the party.
Chandila, elected from Vishnu Garden in west Delhi, gave up his seat after some of his party colleagues criticised him for praising the Congress for promising to legalise unauthorized colonies.
“I have suffered for supporting the truth but I don’t have any problem. I have always supported the truth and would continue to do so,” an unfazed Chandila told IANS.
“I have criticised the Congress over water and electricity problems. But this time they are doing good work on the issue of unauthorized colonies and that is why I praised them,” he added.
Asked whether he would join the Congress before the assembly elections due later this year, Chandila said: “I cannot say anything about joining the Congress as yet. I can even win as an independent.”
However, a reliable Congress source said: “He is going to join the Congress.”
He said that Gujjar leader Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, who resigned from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) a few days ago, was also set to join the Congress.
“There are two others who would also join us very soon but their names can’t be revealed at present,” he added.
Chandila met Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and other Congress leaders after his resignation, adding fuel to speculation that he might join the Congress.
Asked if Chandila would join the Congress, Dikshit said: “I have just heard that he has resigned from his party. But what would be the future, I can’t tell right now.”