Headlines
Congressman for four decades, Giridhar Gamang to join BJP
New Delhi, June 12
Former Odisha chief
minister Giridhar Gamang met BJP national president Amit Shah at the
latter's official residence here on Friday in a meeting that cleared the
decks for the veteran Congress leader to join the BJP.
"After
BJP leaders considered it fit that Giridhar Gamang is acceptable in the
party, they welcomed me," Gamang told reporters after meeting Shah.
Gamang
was accompanied by his son Sisir to the meeting where union Tribal
Affairs minister Jual Oram, Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister
Dharmendra Pradhan and incharge of party affairs in Odisha Arun Singh
were also present.
Citing "humiliation" by the party since 1999,
the nine-time MP from Koraput resigned from the primary membership of
the Congress on May 30 after an association lasting more than four
decades.
Reacting to his entry into the BJP, a state Congress leader in Bhubaneswar dubbed him an "opportunistic".
Interestingly,
Gamang confided that talks between him and BJP leaders about his entry
into the party were on for nearly six months, even though he had
maintained after his resignation that he "would not join any other
party".
"Till a formal and final decision is taken, it is not
proper to go public with such things," said the former Odisha chief
minister.
Gamang maintained he would accept any post given by
his new party and work with the state party leaders in Odisha. He also
hoped that the people of Odisha would support his decision.
Gamang's son Sisir said they would meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the coming days.
Petroleum
Minister Pradhan said: "Giridhar-ji is an experienced leader and
skilled organiser. While his presence will strengthen our party, the
tribal leader's exit from the Congress gives a message that the party is
sinking across the country."
Narasingh Mishra, Leader of
Opposition in the Odisha legislative assembly and leader of the Congress
Legislature Party said: "Giridhar Gamang is an opportunistic
politician. He joined the BJP to serve his interests, ignoring the
contribution of the Congress in his public life. This shows that the
Congress never ignored him as claimed by him."