Following Samajwadi Party’s defeat in the UP polls, former party spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia has joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which pulled off a historic victory in Uttar Pradesh.
Bhatia, after being formally inducted into the party, told the media that he was inspired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of building a new India.
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“Modi ji has given a new thinking about new India. This thinking has inspired me to join the party,” Bhatia said after joining the party.
“This is a party that recognises calibre, dedication and that’s why I am joining the BJP,” he added.
Bhatia, who has been the SP’s face on national television for many years, had quit from all party post in February citing that “the situation in the party was no longer conducive for socialism (samajwad), but moving towards family control (pariwarwaad)”.
The minister was referring to the recent family feud within the Samajwadi Party between Akhilesh Yadav and his uncle Shivpal Yadav, over the control of the party.
Bhatia is the latest in a string of politicians to switch sides. Recently, Congressman veteran and former Karnataka Chief Minister SM Krishna joined the BJP.