Bhopal: In a huge embarrassment for the Congress, one of its Lok Sabha candidates from Madhya Pradesh joined the BJP yesterday. A day after he was nominated in the Congress’ first list to contest the Bhind (reserved) constituency, Bhagirath Prasad joined the BJP at a function at the party headquarters here in the presence of its state chief Narendra Singh Tomar. Prasad, a former Indian Administrative Service officer, contested the last Lok Sabha elections from Bhind on a Congress ticket but lost.
Oust UPA to help TN prosper: Jayalalithaa
Nagercoil: The Congress-led UPA must be defeated in the Lok Sabha election if Tamil Nadu is to become the “numero uno” state in India, Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa said. Campaigning for AIADMK candidate D John Thangam in Kanyakumari, Jayalalithaa said: “If India’s future has to be bright, there should be a change of government (in New Delhi).”
Poojary to contest from Mangalore
Mangalore: Former union minister and veteran Congress leader B Janardhan Poojary was declared the ruling party’s candidate from the Mangalore parliamentary constituency following his victory in the primary held during the day. The Lok Sabha constituency in the Dakshina Kannada coastal district, about 350 km from Bangalore, is held by BJP’s Nalin Kumar Kateel, who has been re-nominated to contest in the elections to be held April 17 for the 28 parliamentary seats in the state.
Nilekani to battle in Bangalore South
Bangalore: Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani formally joined the Congress party here yesterday as a primary member to contest from the Bangalore South parliamentary constituency in the Lok Sabha election. Nilekani will face BJP’s candidate H N Ananth Kumar, who has been representing the constituency since 1996. Nilekani was registered as the 121789th member of the party.
Mooshahary joins Trinamool Congress
Kolkata: Former Meghal-aya governor Ranjit Shekhar Mooshahary joined Trinamool Congress yesterday, the party said. Mooshahary, a retired Indian Police Service officer who headed the Border Security Force and the National Security Guard, joined the Trinamool in Assam. In Jharkhand, seven-time legislator and former MP Chandrasekhar Dubey also switched over to the Trinamool.
IANS
